Following a summer transfer window that was dominated by strikers, it makes sense to focus on a player here that was heavily linked with Newcastle in the final weeks of the window as they attempted to find a replacement for Alexander Isak. 

I still think that Strand Larsen is capable of playing for a club a bit higher up the table and he may end up getting his move in January or next summer, but for now his focus will be on helping Wolves survive in the Premier League after their worrying start. 

Strand Larsen has had five shots across his two Premier League appearances this season (2.81 per 90) with three of these attempts finding the target (1.69 per 90). He hasn’t found the back of the net in the Premier League yet but did score twice against West Ham in the Carabao Cup. 

Larsen averaged 1.18 shots on target per 90 in the Premier League last season with an impressive 63% of his total shots finding the target. This record returned 14 goals for the 25 year old which is a solid return considering that he is playing for a side battling at the bottom of the table. Larsen found the target in both of Wolves’ head to head meetings against Newcastle last season.

Matt Doherty has committed six fouls across his two Premier League appearances so far this season (3.00 per 90). He’s received yellow cards in both of these games against Manchester City and Bournemouth which highlights just how frustrated Wolves have become in the early stages of the season. 

Wolves have committed 13 or more fouls in all three of their Premier League matches this season. This isn’t really a surprise seeing as only Bournemouth committed more fouls than Wolves in the Premier League last season. They are an aggressive side and that aggression often becomes worse when the result isn’t going their way. 

Wolves committed 13 fouls in this fixture last season and 17 in the meeting between the sides at Molineux. Doherty didn’t commit a foul in Wolves’ 3-0 defeat at St James’ Park last season, but he was shown a yellow card and contested five duels in the game. He’s likely to line up against Harvey Barnes here as well as Newcastle’s new addition, Nick Woltemade. 

I do think we’ll see a slightly more put together Newcastle performance here now that the transfer window has closed. The impact that transfer rumours and speculation can have on a side on the pitch cannot be underestimated, especially when the saga involves the most expensive British transfer in history. 

Newcastle won 12 of their 19 home games in the Premier League last season - only Manchester City and Liverpool won more games at home than the Magpies so it is fair to say that St James’ Park was a fortress for the majority of the 24/25 season. 

I think Nick Woltemade and Yoanne Wissa being in the squad will make a massive difference. Newcastle have been lacking a true vocal point in the absence of Alexander Isak but the new signings should ensure that isn’t the case in this clash. 

Wolves have lost all three of their games so far this season and have failed to score in two of those matches. Newcastle should be able to get their season up and running here whilst Wolves should be made to wait for their first three points of the season.