The Premier League is back, and with that comes a flurry of previews and pre-match predictions from pundits up and down the country.
Sky Sports’ Paul Merson and BBC Sport’s Chris Sutton have shared their views, assessing whether Eddie Howe’s Mags will have enough to pick up what would be our first win of the new campaign.
Merson “can’t see anything but a Newcastle win” against a Wolves side who have started 2025/26 with three-straight defeats, feeling it’s the perfect fixture for us to get back on track.
The Sky pundit also backs Nick Woltemade to start and deliver following his £69m move, feeling Bayern Munich wouldn’t have been in for the 23-year-old if he wasn’t a very good player.
Merson predicts a 3-0 Newcastle win, while Sutton sees us beating a leaky Wolves side 3-1, thinking we’ll have too much in attack and finally put the Alexander Isak saga behind us with a comfortable home win.
Here’s what both had to say, starting with Merson’s full preview for Sportskeeda:
“I can’t see anything but a Newcastle win here. Wolves are really struggling at the moment. I know Newcastle haven’t been ripping it up either, but this is a great fixture for them to get back on track.
“Eddie Howe has to start with Nick Woltemade, if not both him and Yoane Wissa together. Wissa hasn’t played a lot of football recently, so I’m not sure if he goes straight into the starting eleven. But if you’re those two forwards, there is no better opportunity to get off the mark than facing Wolves at home!
“I always go with the logic that if the best team in the league wants to sign you, then you’re a good player. Bayern Munich wanted Woltemade, so he must know how to play! If him and Wissa can together get the goals scored by Isak last season, it’s a good transfer window for Newcastle in my opinion.
“Newcastle have played better than what their points tally suggests so far this season. I expect them to win.
Merson’s prediction: Newcastle 3-0 Wolves
“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.
“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 3-1 Wolves
A big opportunity to kickstart our season and build momentum against a beatable Wolves side.
We’re backing the lads to get the job done and Woltemade to score in a much-needed 2-0 win.
Howay the lads!