Wolves boss Vitor Pereira faced the press ahead of their game against Newcastle United on Wednesday.
It’s a new look dugout for Wolves in comparison to their last game against the Magpies. Gary O’Neil has departed the club with Pereira his successor.
Newcastle beat Wolves at Molineux in September thanks to goals from Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes – the Magpies did go behind in that game though.
In a way, it’s a new look Newcastle as well, they played Wolves during their shaky start to the season but have since climbed up the table and now sit fifth, firmly in contention for a return to European football.
Wolves are set to have Matheus Cunha back for the game, the Brazilian was suspended for two games following an altercation in their defeat to Ipswich earlier in the season.
Howe confirmed some absentees of his own, Barnes will miss the Wolves game – Howe confirmed he will miss “the next few weeks”.
Now, Pereira has lifted the lid on how he feels about Eddie Howe ahead of their first meeting in the Premier League.
Vitor Pereira praises Eddie Howe’s Newcastle team
Pereira held his pre-match press conference on Tuesday which was reported on through Wolves’ website.
He was asked about Howe and the challenge Newcastle posed to his side who have won two of their last three Premier League games.
“Eddie is a top coach,” he said.
“When I look at a coach, I look not at what they say, but at their teams and what they build, and Newcastle is a very strong team.
“Of course, Eddie has been at Newcastle for a long time and it’s easier to build something strong, and this is my intention in Wolverhampton – to build something strong.”
Periera was asked about how they can stop Alexander Isak who has scored in seven straight Premier League games.
He said: “As a team. We need to play as a team. If we play only against Isak, it will be Wolves’ 11 against Isak. But it’s 11 against 11, 11 against a team that have got eight wins in a row.”
Newcastle and Isak can make history on Wednesday
The Magpies are keen to keep their winning streak going with a win against Wolves.
A win on Wednesday would put their streak to nine in all competitions, they haven’t done that since the 2016/17 season when they were managed by Rafael Benitez.
Isak’s seven-game goal streak also means that he is one away from breaking Newcastle’s record for consecutive Premier League goals – he’s currently tied with Alan Shearer and Joe Willock.
While Pereira’s words are flattering, Howe and his players must realise there is still a job to do and that’s to get all three points.
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