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With Bruno Lage’s Wolverhampton Wanderers side heading into Saturday’s Premier League clash in a remarkable run of form, having picked up 12 points from a possible 15 over their last five games, the 45-year-old will undoubtedly be hoping for yet another positive result this weekend.

With today’s hosts Leeds United being in a rather contrasting run of form at present, Marcelo Bielsa’s men having picked up just six points so far this season, Lage will know that his team have a fantastic opportunity to catapult themselves into the top half of the table with a result against the Whites.

Will the Portuguese manager decide to make any changes from the team which started the last-gasp 3-2 victory over Aston Villa last weekend? Here’s how we think Wolves could line up against Leeds, along with the latest team and injury news…

With Lage recently confirming that Willy Boly has been ruled out of the visit to Elland Road due to injury and revealing that Francisco Trincao will be available for selection once more – the winger has completed his quarantine period after falling ill while on international duty – we predict that the 45-year-old will make two changes to his starting XI today.

The back six of Jose Sa, Romaine Saiss, Conor Coady, Max Kilman, Fernando Marcal and Nelson Semedo remains unchanged, something which is largely down to Lage currently having just three fit centre-backs in his first team squad following Boly’s injury.

The first change comes in the middle of the park. After deploying a three-man central midfield against Villa, Lage reverts back to a two of Ruben Neves and Leander Dendoncker, with the £3.6m-rated Joao Moutinho dropping out of the XI.

This change also sees Wolves once more employing a three-man attack, in which Adama Traore and the £52k-per-week Daniel Podence start on the left and right flanks respectively as both players highly impressed in the win at Villa. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Hwang Hee-chan, who had a poor game at Villa Park, is replaced by Raul Jimenez up top, with Trincao having to make do with a place on the bench initially.

In other news: Wolves’ £6.3m-rated “breath of fresh air” could cause Lage a major problem next season

David Moyes will be tempted to remain with an unchanged starting XI for West Ham’s trip to Merseyside this afternoon.

But the Scotsman did hint at a couple of injury worries following the international break, so that may not be possible.

Last time out, the Irons suffered only their second defeat of the 2021/22 campaign, losing to a last-gasp goal against newly-promoted Brentford and now they head to Goodison Park to face an in-form Everton side.

It leaves Moyes with plenty of selection headaches but with that in mind, here’s the Hammers XI we’re predicting today…

There could be as many as three changes from the side that tasted defeat at the London Stadium.

Between the sticks, Lukasz Fabianski is expected to resume duties, with Paris Saint-Germain loanee Alphonse Areola only being used sparingly in the cup competitions.

We’re also predicting there to be a shuffle in defence as Issa Diop comes in for Angelo Ogbonna to form an all-French partnership in the middle. He’s yet to start in the league but after assistant manager Stuart Pearce described him as a “colossus”, it’s surely a matter of time before he does.

Whilst there have been concerns over the fitness of Vladimir Coufal.

The 29-year-old right-back pulled out of international duty for the Czech Republic during the break and still may not be risked just yet. You could tell he was rushed back for the Brentford defeat and he looked some way off his usual standard.

Instead, we may see Ben Johnson pair up with fellow full-back Aaron Cresswell.

It’s in midfield where there is a third and final change as club captain Mark Noble gets the nod over Tomas Soucek.

According to The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas, “it would not come as a surprise” if Moyes rested the Czech Republic international ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Genk.

He has played a lot of football since the start of last season, resulting in some leggy outings in recent weeks. He played the full 90 minutes on international duty twice last week.

Noble joins England star Declan Rice in the engine room, whilst the attack remains untouched, meaning Michail Antonio leads the line, having benefitted from pulling out of the Jamaica squad.

He’ll be supported by the trio of Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen.

AND in other news, Moyes must brutally axe “unplayable” £45k-per-week star at Goodison Park…

Steve Parish and Crystal Palace will not budge on Wilfried Zaha’s valuation, former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer has told The Transfer Tavern.

Zaha had been strongly linked with both Tottenham and Everton at the end of last season but nothing is yet to materialise.

The latter’s interest dates back to 2019 where they had an offer rejected for the player, which was confirmed by the club (via Liverpool Echo).

Transfer insider Dean Jones, speaking on the Football Terrace, has claimed that Spurs are still looking at Zaha ahead of deadline day. Palmer, though, has warned them and other outfits not to expect a discount.

“Steve Parish is one of those guys. He won’t budge on this,” the ex-Leeds United player said. “If he’s said it’s 50 million, for example, it’s 50 million. So it’s for the clubs now to trigger that.”

While you would never rule anything out, it would be a surprise to see Tottenham splash out on Zaha in this moment of time.

Nuno Espirito Santo currently has the likes of Son Heung-min, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn for those attacking positions, the trio all impressing in that recent 1-0 win against Manchester City.

They have also just brought in Bryan Gil from Sevilla so are hardly lacking in that area of the pitch right now.

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has revealed that Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard is looking to lure Leon King away from former club Rangers.

What’s the story?

Writing initially on Twitter, he said: “Some transfer news into @birmingham_live prior to kick-off as Gerrard looks to take full advantage of Leon King’s contract situation at Rangers. The 17-year-old was promoted to first-team sessions under SG. Cut-price deal for #avfc via @RichardCusackBM”

Then, in a follow-up article for The Birmingham Mail, Preece added: “Aston Villa are considering a move for Rangers youngster Leon King – who they could get for just over £200k. The Ibrox side are in talks with their talented 17-year-old over a new contract. The young defender has still to agree an extension with the Scottish champions and as it stands he runs out of contract in the summer and could move in a cut-price cross-border switch.

“King is seen as one of the top, young talents north of the border and he is already being tracked by a host of top English clubs, including Manchester United, Newcastle United and Leicester City.”

Gerrard’s influence

While Dean Smith oversaw the signings of the likes of Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia in particular over the course of the summer transfer window, there’s no questioning that having Gerrard as your club’s manager brings with it a far bigger pull and attraction.

The former Liverpool skipper is an icon and someone who players around the world will be familiar with, and whether it’s a young starlet like King, or a more established first-team star, the lure of playing for Gerrard could prove to be a difference-maker for Villa.

With Preece claiming that the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle and Leicester are all keeping a track of King, Villa face a real battle on their hands to sign the 17-year-old.

Gerrard’s own connection with Rangers as the club’s former boss could be decisive, however, while the prospect of working under a young manager who clearly rates him already could further persuade the teenager.

Villa fans will no doubt be delighted at Preece’s latest transfer update. After all, this feels like the ideal match for Gerrard and the player.

Meanwhile, this Villa man was an “absolute revelation” vs Man City…

Manchester United have received a potentially significant boost in their pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba.

What’s the story?

The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the highly-rated 18-year-old in recent weeks as Barca have so far been unable to extend his contract, which currently expires next summer.

Well-known journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently provided an update on Moriba’s situation, tweeting some intriguing quotes from the Blaugrana’s president Joan Laporta.

He tweeted: “Barça president Joan Laporta again on Ilaix Moriba: “We cannot allow him to be promoted [to the first-team] and then leave. We won’t accept that with any player. If he wants to go and it’s because he has other options, he can leave the club”.

Manchester United fans will be buzzing

Moriba established himself as one of the most exciting young prospects in La Liga last season, scoring one goal and providing three assists in 18 senior appearances for his boyhood club.

However, with only 12 months remaining on his existing deal and no resolution in sight, an imminent Camp Nou exit could be on the cards for the teenager, who has rejected the club’s offer of a new contract.

The Spain under-18 international is likely to have plenty of potential suitors given his impressive array of skills, but news of Moriba’s availability will surely have the United supporters buzzing.

With Paul Pogba’s future far from secure, Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is thought to be in the market for a new central midfielder over the coming months.

Big names such as Leon Goretzka, Saul Niguez and Eduardo Camavinga have reportedly caught the eye of the 20-time English champions, yet Moriba’s arrival would bring just as much intrigue as the aforementioned stars.

The 6 ft maestro would add significant strength in depth to United’s engine room, an area of weakness for them for so long, providing Solskjaer with the necessary tools to bring major trophies back to the red half of Manchester.

Whether the club’s hierarchy follow up their interest in Moriba with a concrete offer remains to be seen, but fans must be delighted to hear that he seems far from committed to the Barcelona cause.

In other news…Ole must move £7.2m-rated Man Utd ace this summer, he’s not been good enough so far 

According to Football Insider, Southampton lead the race to sign Adam Armstrong from Blackburn Rovers this summer.

The Lowdown: Saints eye a striker

After a mixed campaign which saw the Saints finish 15th in the Premier League but also reach an F.A Cup semi-final, Ralph Hasenhuttl and co will likely be looking to add to his squad ahead of next term.

With Danny Ings continually linked with the exit door (The Telegraph via The Daily Express), a new striker could be towards the top of Hasenhuttl’s wishlist.

The Latest: Armstrong on the radar

Now, according to Football Insider sources, the Saints are leading the race for Armstrong along with newly-promoted Norwich City.

As per the report, Blackburn are looking for £15m for the 24-year-old.

The Verdict: On form

Last-term, Armstrong enjoyed a prolific campaign despite his side only finishing 15th in the Championship table. He scored 29 goals in 43 games in all competitions, including 28 in the league (Transfermarkt) – only Brentford’s Ivan Toney managed more in the second tier last term (topscorersfootball.com).

Tony Mowbray hailed him as a “dynamic” player towards the end of 2020 (FourFourTwo), and his goal record suggests that assessment is spot on.

All in all, he has 64 strikes in 160 games for Blackburn – it seems he is ready to make the next step after his best campaign yet.

Valued at £14.4m (Transfermarkt), the fee Rovers are actually looking for appears to be respectable, too. Should the Saints be able to capture his services, he could be an inspired signing.

In other news, Southampton fans were livid at this man’s exit.

Queens Park Rangers have been handed a potential injury boost ahead of the Rs’ upcoming Championship fixture.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by West London Sport, QPR midfielder Luke Amos is nearing a return to first-team football after spending nearly a year on the sidelines as a result of an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which the defensive midfielder picked up against AFC Bournemouth last October.

The 24-year-old, who had also spent a year on the treatment table with an ACL injury prior to his move from Tottenham Hotspur to QPR in 2020, started two fixtures in the space of a week for the club’s U23 side towards the end of August, and could be in contention for the visit of Reading this Saturday.

Warburton will be buzzing

While Mark Warburton bolstered his options in central midfield with a number of summer signings, including the likes of Stefan Johansen, Sam Field and Andre Dozzell, the return of Amos will undoubtedly have left the 59-year-old manager buzzing.

Indeed, the £900k-rated man played a key role in QPR’s 2019/20 Championship campaign, featuring in 34 league fixtures for the club, over which the former England U19 international scored two goals, as well as making an average of one interception, 1.5 tackles, 0.8 clearances and winning 3.8 duels per game.

The £5k-per-week midfielder also started the 2020/21 season brightly, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.76 over his five Championship appearances prior to his injury.

As such, while it is true that Amos may have a bit of work to do to re-establish himself in Warburton’s starting XI, his return from injury is undeniably good news for the Rs boss, who will be delighted that a player as talented as the 24-year-old looks set to be available for selection once again – adding further depth to a position in which QPR now boast a number of impressive options.

In other news: Alan Nixon drops QPR claim on “outstanding” £4k-p/w beast which will have fans buzzing

Mohammed Elyounoussi has been enjoying a bit of a renaissance at Southampton and was in superb form once again recently, this time for his country.

The winger scored in Norway’s 2-0 win against Latvia on Saturday evening to make five goals in his last four appearances for club and country.

As per SofaScore, the Saints winger would earn an impressive 7.6/10 rating for his performance, with only Martin Odegaard (8.5) and Erling Haaland (7.8) rated higher of every player from both sides to start the game.

As well as his goal, the £10.8m-rated Elyounoussi would complete an impressive six dribbles and registered four shots on target in total, which emphasises just how dangerous and confident he is in front of goal at the moment.

The former FC Basel man endured a difficult start to life at St Mary’s and spent each of the last two seasons on loan with Celtic, contributing an impressive 24 goals and 14 assists in 67 appearances for the Hoops.

Ralph Hasenhuttl suggested that he would be given an opportunity to impress again with Southampton this season and after being left out of the side for the opening two Premier League fixtures he emphasised his quality with three goals and two assists in the 8-0 thrashing of Newport in the League Cup.

He was then rewarded with a start in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle United and scored Southampton’s first goal there, so it seems as if he has done enough to win over the Austrian manager and show that he can be a key player for the Saints this season.

Saints fans will no doubt be delighted to see him continue his fine recent form for his country and will be hoping to see him pick up where he left off when the Saints face West Ham at St Mary’s this weekend.

And, in other news… Bye-bye Forster: Semmens should seal Saints swoop for “exceptional” star

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Premier League striker Brian Deane is confident that West Brom will challenge for promotion under Chris Wilder if they end up hiring him.

Wilder is being heavily linked with the West Brom job, with the Mirror recently reporting that the 53-year-old is the Midlands club’s No.1 choice to replace Sam Allardyce.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Mirror (via Football League World) claims Wilder has already identified his first transfer target for the Baggies in Newcastle United’s Dwight Gayle.

Ultimately, with Wilder at the helm, Deane is expecting West Brom to be among the candidates to go up.

“I think if you look at the West Brom squad, they’ve got a very well-balanced squad,” the ex-Sheffield United striker said. “They’ve got a lot of pace, lot of mobility in there.

“They’re obviously going to be challenging. If Chris does go there, then he’s got a good squad to mould.”

While there are already some strong sides in the Championship, such as Swansea City and Bournemouth, who both fell short in the play-offs, West Brom should fancy their chances under a coach like Wilder – a coach who has won Premier League promotion before.

Bringing in a forward who is so prolific in this division like Gayle will also drastically boost their chances.

Sunderland have been issued a huge injury lift over attacking midfielder Alex Pritchard after he was absent on Monday…

What’s the latest?

Black Cats boss Alex Neil has explained why he was not in the squad for the clash with Plymouth and provided hope for the final three matches of the campaign.

He told the Sunderland Echo: “What we couldn’t do is risk him, the last thing I want to do is put him on for 20 minutes, he breaks back down and we then miss him for the next week.”We’re at a stage now where if you are out for any period of time, you miss all the remaining games.”I’m very, very hopeful that if we get a good week, well three days under his belt [before Saturday], then let’s see how he goes for the next week.” Supporters will be delighted

Supporters will be delighted with this news as Pritchard’s return will be a major boost for the club ahead of a crucial set of games.

The Black Cats are one point above Sheffield Wednesday, having played one match more, in the race for a play-off position and are two points off fourth with a game in hand on fifth and fourth. This means that they have a big chance to land in the top six by the end of the campaign and their clashes with Cambridge, Rotherham and Morecambe.

Therefore, Pritchard coming back is vital for Neil as he has the quality to unlock defences. Sunderland struggled badly in the final third without him against Plymouth on Monday as they failed to create any clear-cut chances to score, managing two shots on target in the 0-0 draw.

In League One this season, the Englishman has created 2.1 chances per game and provided eight ‘big chances’ in 33 outings. This shows that he has regularly been delivering in the final third in terms of being able to create openings for his teammates, which would have helped the likes of Nathan Broadhead and Ross Stewart earlier this week.

The 28-year-old has the magic touch on the ball, with four goals and seven assists this term, and can be the difference-maker as Sunderland fight for a play-off position. This is why the fans will be buzzing to read Neil’s ‘hopeful’ comments regarding his current injury situation as he can play a huge role in the team in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Patterson: £2.7k-p/w SAFC gem with 87.5% duels lost flopped today…