Momentum meets resurgence as Newcastle’s European push travels to revitalised Wolves | OneFootball

Newcastle United return to Premier League action this weekend with a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Eddie Howe’s side lost 2-0 at home to Manchester City in midweek, a result which left their hopes of retaining the League Cup hanging by a thread.

Despite that setback, Newcastle travel south with plenty of encouragement drawn from their recent league form.

Three consecutive victories have lifted the Magpies into sixth place and firmly back into contention for the European places.

That run has restored confidence after a patchy first half of the season and underlined Newcastle’s ability to respond to adversity.

Victory at Molineux would give Howe’s side a fourth straight league win and mark their best start to a calendar year since the mid-1990s.

However, Newcastle could scarcely have picked a more awkward moment to face Wolves.

The hosts may be bottom of the table, but their recent performances suggest a side far removed from one resigned to relegation.

Wolves are unbeaten in their last three Premier League matches and have taken points from Manchester United and Everton in that spell.

They followed that with a thumping 6-1 FA Cup victory over Shrewsbury Town, a result that further lifted morale around Molineux.

Jorgen Strand Larsen’s hat-trick ended a lengthy goal drought and gave Wolves a focal point of renewed belief in attack.

Back-to-back home wins have seen Wolves score freely, and the atmosphere has shifted from despair to cautious optimism.

While survival remains a daunting task, Rob Edwards’ side are finally showing momentum and resilience.

Their confidence will be further boosted by the sense that they have little to lose against a side pushing for Europe.

Newcastle must show they can maintain league intensity after a draining run of cup fixtures.

Away form has been a concern this season, with just two league wins on the road, although one came in their most recent away outing.

The Magpies have also won their last four meetings with Wolves, including a narrow victory earlier in the season.

That history offers encouragement, but Wolves are in better spirits than their league position suggests.

The challenge for visitors will be balancing physical recovery with the need to maintain momentum.

For Wolves, it is a chance to test their resurgence against one of the division’s in-form sides.

The contrast between league position and current confidence sets up a contest that feels more finely poised than the table implies.

Both sides have reasons to believe, which should make for a competitive and intriguing encounter at Molineux.