Chris Sutton has predicted a win for Newcastle United against Wolves on Saturday, but has not ruled out one player spoiling the afternoon.
Having failed to pick up a win in their opening three games of the season, Eddie Howe’s side will be keen to pick up a positive result following the international break.
Newcastle United welcome Wolves to St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon, a side who have not picked up a single point in the Premier League so far.
All eyes will be on potential new debutants Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, though it remains to be seen who Howe will choose to start up front. Woltemade will be the more match-sharp of the pair, but lacks experience playing in England, whereas Wissa has multiple years of Premier League experience, but did not have a full pre-season.
With both teams hoping for a win, Chris Sutton has shared how many goals he thinks Newcastle can win by on Saturday.
Jorgen Strand Larsen waves to the crowd following a game between Wolves and West Ham United.
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Chris Sutton predicts a straightforward win for Newcastle United against Wolves
Paul Merson predicted an easy win for Newcastle and claimed that Howe has to start Woltemade due to his fitness. Howe could even opt to play the pair together, something which would surely excite fans.
Sutton has also backed Newcastle to win without much resistance, but suggested that summer transfer target Jorgen Strand Larsen could end up showing why the Magpies should regret missing out on him.
“Both of these teams are still without a win so far, although Wolves are the only Premier League club without a point on the board,” he said on BBC Sport.
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“Newcastle have drawn twice and only lost very late on against Liverpool, so their form is hardly cause for concern.
“They can move on now the Alexander Isak transfer saga is over, although this is our first look at their new attack.
“We will have to wait and see how fit and ready Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa are, or how they settle in, but I still think Newcastle will have too much for a Wolves team who are leaking too many goals.
“At least Wolves do carry a threat going forward – especially in Jorgen Strand Larsen, who Newcastle tried to sign last month.
“It would be typical if he went to St James’ Park and scored the winner, but I don’t see that happening.”
Sutton’s prediction: Newcastle United 3 Wolves 1
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s involvement with Wolves against Newcastle United is in doubt
Newcastle were seriously interested in Strand Larsen before signing Woltemade and Wissa. Howe’s recruitment team even made two offers for the 25-year-old, which Wolves swiftly knocked back.
It was reported that Strand Larsen wanted to leave Wolves for Newcastle in the final days of the transfer window, but was told now was not the time, as they could not sign a Premier League-proven striker to replace him.
Strand Larsen had only joined Wolves on a permanent transfer that summer following a bright season on loan, where he scored an impressive 14 Premier League goals. His recent signing likely meant that any chance of a deal was slim to begin with.
While Sutton thinks he can spoil the fun at St James’ Park, Strand Larsen could miss the game through injury. The Norwegian international missed Wolves’ game against Everton before the international break, and withdrew from his duties with Norway due to an Achilles issue.
Strand Larsen could return on Saturday after two weeks of recovery, but it is not 100% confirmed that he will.
Now, Newcastle must make do with their new striker additions and get them up to speed with Howe’s intense style of football. There is a lot of excitement about the pair, but fans will not truly know how they will perform until they step onto the pitch at St James’ Park.