Wolves predicted line-up vs. Brentford: key change made as international duo return to contention

Wolves will face a familiar foe on Saturday when they welcome Brentford to Molineux. Remarkably, this weekend’s clash will represent the fourth time the two sides have faced each other in the last 45 days after Wolves claimed a 4-1 win in a Premier League meeting in December before coming through an FA Cup replay against the Bees after a 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Gary O’Neil’s men will go into the game in good heart after they managed to shake off the disappointment of the agonisingly late defeat against Manchester United with a stunning 4-2 win at Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. That win at Stamford Bridge has kept Wolves in contention for a surprise push for Europe and they will hope to continue their bid for a return to competing on the continent with a home win on Saturday.

Wolves team news

O’Neil has some major calls to make before he finalises his squad after a number of players shrugged off some knocks and battles with illness in recent days. However, there were two major boosts for O’Neil ahead of the game as his squad approaches full strength with the return of two key players. South Korea’s surprise 2-0 defeat in their Asian Cup semi-final with Jordan - but the loss did provide some positive news for Wolves as Hee-Chan Hwang returns to the fold in time for Saturday’s game. He will not be the only international star back in contention as Mali’s African Cup of Nations quarter-final loss against Ivory Coast means Boubacar Traore is now available once again.

Speaking of the duo’s return in his pre-match press conference, O’Neil said: “Both are fit and both are available to start. There will be some decisions to make and I suppose there is some disappointment for Channy (Hwang) because I know he was keen to try and win the Asian Cup for his country and I know he would have given absolutely everything over there. He had a few niggles and injury issues he had to contend with when he was there so (I am) disappointed for him that he wasn’t quite able to go all of the way. The upside to that is we get him back one game earlier than we were expecting and he gives us a fantastic option, whether that be from the start of from the bench.”

Wolves predicting line-up v Brentford

Sa, Kilman, Dawson, Toti, Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri, Hwang, Cunha, Neto.