Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Newcastle United. Sky Bet Championship.
MolineuxAttendance24,876.
Saturday 11 February 2017 16:39, UK
Wolves forward Joe Mason remains out of action but boss Paul Lambert has no fresh injury worries ahead of the visit of Newcastle, which is live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 5.15pm on Saturday.
The striker is struggling with a hernia problem and will miss the Sky Bet Championship game. Romain Saiss is back from the Africa Cup of Nations but Mike Williamson is nursing a groin problem, while Long-term absentees Jordan Graham and Michal Zyro are continuing their recoveries from knee injuries.
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez will not risk leading scorer Dwight Gayle if he has not fully recovered from his hamstring injury. Gayle, who has 20 goals to his name so far this season, has not played since picking up his injury in a the 2-1 win at Brentford on January 14.
Central defender Chancel Mbemba and Christian Atsu should return to contention after reporting back from African Nations Cup duty with DR Congo and Ghana respectively, while Atsu's midfield colleague Jack Colback is expected to be available after recovering from illness.
Utility man Vurnon Anita is working his way back from an ankle injury, while winger Rolando Aarons continues his recovery from a long-term knee problem
Prutton's prediction
There's an opinion that when you're the home team you have to go after the game but Wolves will need to be solid against Newcastle.
As hit and miss as Paul Lambert's side can be, I'm backing them to get a draw against the promotion pace-setters.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 14/1)
Opta stats
Wolves' 2-0 win against Newcastle in September was their first over the Magpies in the league since April 1993.
Newcastle have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 11 games against Wolves.
Helder Costa has been involved in 12 goals in his last 12 appearances in all competitions for Wolves (six goals, six assists).
Newcastle have won 10 of their last 11 Championship games played on a Saturday (L1), with their last three defeats coming on a Monday (twice) and a Friday.
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