Wolves vs Sunderland - Match Preview

A fresh start for The Wearsiders today as they travel to Wolves, their players knowing that they have something of a fresh slate with new manager Martin O'Neill (who will be in the stands today, assistant manager Eric Black in charge until Monday) and the impetus is there to impress their new gaffer. It was obvious in the last couple of weeks that former boss Steve Bruce had lost not only the support of his players but of the fans too and with a new manager in it will hopefully bring better horizons. It sure does feel a lot longer than six months ago when Bruce led Sunderland to their highest top flight finish in a decade. For Wolves, they were at one point this season desperate for boss Mick McCarthy to similarly be given the chop but he has rode it out and so far remains. The struggling side have only five points from eleven games, that's relegation form in any season and they currently lie just one point from the drop. This is a huge game for Wolves today against opposition at home that they will think they must win. The significant stadium expansion that is going on at the Molineux is an altogether timely reminder that relegation is just not an option for them this term. It's 16th against 17th in today's Sky Sports Super Sunday encounter.

Team News

Wolves midfielders Jamie O'Hara and Stephen Hunt return from suspension, but they are still a player down after Karl Henry picked up five bookings and misses out. Kevin Doyle (knee) & Richard Stearman (wrist) should be back after recovering from their knocks. There are reports that Titus Bramble could play his first match since September after recovering from a knee injury, though he does lack match fitness. His club investigation seems to have been put aside so he might be able to play. Frazier Campbell is also back in training but is probably at least a week short of playing. Sebastian Larsson will make his 200th career league appearance. Connor Wickham (knee ligaments) and goalkeepers Simon Mignolet (fractured nose & eye socket) and Craig Gordon (knee) remain on the treatment table.

Line-ups from;

Wolves (from): Hennessey, De Vries, Stearman, Zubar, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Hammill, O'Hara, Hunt, Guedioura, Jarvis, Doyle, Doherty, Elokobi, Craddock, Milijas, Edwards, Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher, Doherty. Sunderland (from): Westwood, Carson, Brown, Bardsley, Richardson, Turner, Laing, Cattermole, Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson, Colback, Elmohamady, Meyler, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Ji, McClean, Cook, Egan, Noble.