WATCH THE VIDEO FOR THE LATEST NEWS AND OUR THOUGHTS ON WOLVES V WEST HAM
TEAM NEWS
Wolves will monitor the progress of Hwang Hee-chan and Craig Dawson, who are nearing returns from injuries after resuming training.
Pedro Neto and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde remain sidelined, but the recently recovered Mateus Cunha could start his first game in nearly two months.
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola will miss out again due to a groin injury, while Nayef Aguerd’s shoulder problem will be evaluated.
Mexican international Edson Alvarez returns following a two-match suspension.
GARY O'NEIL
Gary O’Neil has been speaking to the media before Wolves’ Premier League match against West Ham at Molineux on Saturday.
Here are the main headlines from his news conference:
- Hwang Hee-chan and Craig Dawson both trained with the team on Friday after their recent injuries. “It was their first main session, they’ve done a couple of smaller ones, they’ll be reviewed after the session and we’ll see if they’re going to be part of the matchday squad.”
- Matheus Cunha has had “no issues” following his cameo from the bench at Burnley, while Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is “doing better now” but still not available for selection.
- O’Neil spoke after the Burnley match about the club’s squad depth and the failure to add a new striker in January. “I always try to speak really honestly and openly around situations and it was more an explanation as to the situation we find ourselves in and something we have to learn from,” said the Wolves boss on Friday.
- He continued: “I know the club have invested an awful lot of money over the years and they’re not in a position to do so at the moment. It’s left us in a situation where we are short, but there wasn’t too much that could be done about it. We tried, we worked hard on it, and in the end financially we couldn’t get anything done that we felt would help us. It’s something that I think it’s important we learn from for next season.”
- A win on Saturday would take Wolves above West Ham and, depending on other results, potentially into seventh spot. O’Neil said: “There’s been a lot of hard work gone in to get us into this position from everybody. We’re still right there with eight games to go, we’re still in with a shout [of qualifying for Europe]. It will take a lot of hard work still to get us there but I’m really pleased with the position we find ourselves in.”
- On Saturday’s opponents: “West Ham will be a tough test definitely, they’ve got a lot of their key players back now. They went through a tough spell with a few attacking players out but they’ve got most of them back. It will be a test but one we’re really looking forward to. The players worked hard for their point away from home [at Burnley] and to be able to add three at home this weekend would make it a good week for us.”
MATCH STATS & FACTS
Head-to-head
- West Ham beat Wolves 3-0 in December and are vying for only their second top-flight league double against them, having also beaten them twice in 2020-21.
- The Hammers have won five of their past seven Premier League matches against Wolves, although they have lost on each of their last two visits to Molineux.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Wolves have 42 points after 30 games, one more than their final total last season.
- They are the only team in the top five European leagues to have not scored a league goal from outside the penalty area (excludes one deflected shot recorded as an own goal).
- Head coach Gary O’Neil has lost all three league meetings as a manager against David Moyes by an aggregate score of 9-0.
- Matheus Cunha has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other Wolves player this season, scoring nine and assisting six.
- Rayan Ait-Nouri has netted three times in his last four games for Wolves in all competitions – just one fewer than in his first 105 appearances for the club.
West Ham United
- The Hammers have won just two of 12 league matches in 2024, while their tally of six draws this calendar year is a joint high with Everton.
- David Moyes’ side have conceded 55 goals in the Premier League this season – their highest figure since shipping 62 in 2019-20.
- Jarrod Bowen is one goal short of equalling the most top-flight goals scored by a Hammers player in a single season – 16 by Paolo Di Canio in 1999-2000.
- David Moyes has won eight Premier League matches against Wolves – Jurgen Klopp (10 victories) is the only manager to have beaten them as often.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Tony Harrington. Assistants: Mark Scholes, Akil Howson. Fourth official: Darren England. VAR: Tim Robinson. Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes.
MATCH INFO
The match kicks off at 3pm at Molineux on Saturday 6th April.