Wolves team news: Updates on Adingra, Minteh, O'Riley, Pedro and Webster

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Albion sit fifth in the Premier League ahead of Saturday's game.

Charlie Hanson

2024-10-24T10:45+01:00

Simon Adingra wasn't named in the matchday squad for last week's game at Newcastle. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion will aim to move into the top three in the Premier League on Saturday when they take on Wolves at the Amex, kick-off 3pm.

Having taken a point from their opening eight league games, Wolves know a victory could drag them off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone.

Team news

Yankuba Minteh missed the 1-0 win over Newcastle United. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Fabian Hurzeler gave an update on Joao Pedro, Yankuba Minteh, Adam Webster, Simon Adingra and Matt O'Riley ahead of Saturday's game.

The head coach also provided an update on Danny Welbeck, which you can read in full here.

On Joao Pedro, "We have to be a little bit more patient, but I think there will be a comeback soon. I can't say the exact date of the comeback."

On Yankuba Minteh, "We have to go day by day. He has a small issue with his muscle after his international games with Gambia.

"But one thing is clear, we won't take any risk with the players because it's still early in the season and the hard period of the Premier League is still in front of us."

On Adam Webster, "We still have to be patient. I think it takes two-three more weeks until he's back on the pitch, but he's very positive and I think the injury is not that bad. We have small issues but not big issues and we have to deal with it.

"I have a great medical department. I have great physios. They are working day by day for the players. They try to bring the players back as quickly as possible. Every club has to deal with these small issues and we also have to do it, so we try to think positive."

On Simon Adingra, "It's most important that we take care of the players health, because that's our responsibility. Simon came back after a long injury. He was out for three weeks and he'd only had one or two small training sessions. The risk was too high to give him game minutes [at Newcastle] and I want to have players on the bench who are fully fit. He has now trained for the whole week so hopefully he will be an option for the weekend."

On Matt O'Riley, "Hopefully he will post a video soon of him on the pitch [having posted a video of him upping his recovery]. He's close to being back."

Fabian’s thoughts

Fabian Hurzeler's team head into Saturday's game having won their last two Premier League matches. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

On Igor Julio's recent performances, "It was a very difficult situation for Igor coming in a game against Tottenham where the team suffered from the first minute and then he came in and we conceded two goals.

"But then to show reaction and personality, not hiding, is something special and he showed this.

"He was not hiding to get the ball. He was not hiding to go in duels. And then he played a great second half against Tottenham. He then played a good game against Newcastle.

Igor Julio made his first start of the Premier League season in the 1-0 win at Newcastle. 📷 by James Boardman.

"I wasn't surprised by this because I see him every training session and he's an amazing professional. He always wants to give the best. He always wants to be the best version of himself and that's very impressive.

"He got what he deserved in these two games and now it's a decision we have to make. We have three games in a short period of time."

Match facts

Having won just one of their first seven Premier League meetings with Wolves (D4 L2), Brighton have now won four of their last five against them (D1).
Wolves have won just three of their 20 away league games against Brighton (D8 L9), with all three victories coming by a 1-0 scoreline (September 2004, January 2016 and December 2021).
Brighton are looking to win three successive Premier League games for the first time since September 2023, while the Seagulls are also looking to win two in a row without conceding in the competition for the first time since April/May 2023 – one of which was against Wolves.
Wolves have picked up just one point in their last 11 Premier League games, losing more games (10) and conceding more goals (33) than any other side in that time.
In their first four Premier League seasons, Brighton’s average point tally after eight matches was 7.8. Since 2021-22, they are averaging exactly 15 points at this stage, winning 15 this season (W4 D3 L1).
Wolves have lost their last five Premier League matches, despite finding the net in each match. The last team to lose six top-flight games in a row while scoring in every game were Man City in November/December 1960.
Albion have won just 12 of their 45 Premier League matches against teams starting the day in the relegation zone (27%). Among teams to play in more than five seasons, only West Brom (26%, won 20/78) have a lower win percentage than the Seagulls.
Jørgen Strand Larsen has been involved in four goals in his last seven Premier League appearances (3 goals, 1 assist), although he has ended on the losing side in all four games he has scored or assisted. The only other player to score or assist in four games and lose every single game in Premier League history was Watford midfielder Richard Johnson in the 1999-00 season.
Wolves midfielder João Gomes has committed the most fouls in the Premier League this season (20) and only two players have more bookings than he does (4). His yellow card against Man City was his 20th in just 53 appearances, the sixth fewest appearances for a player to receive 20 yellows in Premier League history.
Lewis Dunk could make his 250th Premier League appearance in this match for Brighton. All of his 249 games so far have been starts, with only five outfield players starting each of their first 250 games in the competition: Gary McAllister (1992-99), Des Walker (1992-2000), Gary Pallister (1992-2000), Gareth Southgate (1992-2000) and Paul Ince (1992-2001).