TEAM NEWS
Manchester United summer signing Rasmus Hojlund, who has been nursing a back problem, is not yet fit to feature. Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo, Tom Heaton and Dean Henderson are also sidelined.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfielder Mason Mount await their first appearances after joining from Inter Milan and Chelsea respectively.
Wolves have no new injury concerns although Matheus Cunha has missed some of training this week but is expected to be available for selection for Monday’s game.
GARY O'NEIL
On getting to know his players quickly, having faced Wolves twice as Bournemouth manager last season: “I had a decent understanding before, but you only touch the surface. When you walk into the group, it’s a completely different amount of information you can gather about people, their strengths and weaknesses. We’re early in the process of that, but we’ve had a good two days and I feel like we’re getting to know each other well.”
O’Neil is keen to address Wolves’ shortage of goals from last season: “We have good attacking players, exciting players that can cause problems and create things individually. My job is to try to help with the structure, how we progress up the pitch, arriving in dangerous areas more often and, of course, being clinical.”
On the prospect of incoming transfers, O’Neil said: “A lot’s been made of it outside. I think it’s really clear on where it is – but never say never, things move fast. There’s a real focus from me on what we have here. We have some incredible players and a group that is together.”
O’Neil is not setting any long-term targets for the season ahead, adding: “My goal at the minute is to work with the players, improve their understanding and get them into a place where we can be competitive in every game. If we do that, we’ll win enough matches to have a successful season. What position that is, it’s too early for me to say. But I’m really positive.”
On Manchester United: “I think they’ll be better than they were last season. It’s a big challenge. The big challenge for me is every other club in the Premier League has been working towards this game for six weeks and we’ve had a very different pre-season to that. It’s not how you’d ideally want to prepare for the first game but there are no excuses.”
Asked if he had a message for Wolves fans, O’Neil said: “When I played here as an opposition player and came here as an opposition coach, [I saw] the fantastic support and backing they give and we’ll need them 100%. My aim is to give them a team they can be proud of, that they can relate to and get their backing. We’re going to need everyone this year all pushing in the same direction.”
MATCH FACTS & STATS
Head-to-head
- Manchester United’s only defeat in their past 12 home league games against Wolves (W8, D3) was a 1-0 loss in January 2022, when Joao Moutinho scored the winner.
- Wolves have lost five of the last six league meetings.
Manchester United
- The Reds have won their opening Premier League match on 20 occasions but have started with a defeat in two of the previous three seasons.
- They lost to Brighton on the opening weekend last August but are unbeaten in their subsequent 18 Premier League home fixtures (W15, D3), conceding just eight goals in this run.
- United are undefeated in 29 home matches in all competitions (W25, D4) since losing 1-0 to Real Sociedad in the Europa League on 8 September 2022.
- Erik ten Hag’s side have won their past six top-flight matches at Old Trafford. It is six years since they had better run at home, winning eight straight league games between May and November 2017.
- United conceded 10 Premier League home goals last season, fewer than any other side.
- Marcus Rashford scored 20 goals in 30 games at Old Trafford in all competitions last term – only Erling Haaland, with 35, netted more at home for a Premier League club in 2022-23.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Wolves’ only clean sheet in their last 23 Premier League away matches was a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth on 31 August 2022, a game which, coincidentally, was Gary O’Neil’s first as Cherries boss.
- They are in danger of losing their opening league fixture in three successive seasons for the first time since 1988-1990.
- Wolves are winless in their previous eight Premier League away matches (D2, L6), losing the last four in a row by an aggregate score of 15-1.
- It is their longest losing run on the road since their return to the top flight in 2018.
- They netted just 12 Premier League away goals in 2022-23 – only West Ham, with 11, had a worse record.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Simon Hooper. Assistants: Simon Long, Adrian Holmes. Fourth official: Darren Bond. VAR: Michael Salisbury. Assistant VAR: Richard West.
MATCH INFO
The match kicks off at 8pm on Monday 14th August at Old Trafford and will be shown live on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports.