Wolves will have wing-back Matt Doherty fit and available when they take on Torino in the Europa League this evening. Doherty, who did not re-appear after the break-in Monday night’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester United because of illness, is fit and in a squad which comprises of the 18 men selected for that game, plus defenders Max Kilman and Jesus Vallejo.
There has been little time to prepare for the trip to Italy, but boss Nuno Espirito Santo is convinced his players will be ready as they look to qualify for the group stage of the competition for the first time.
Nuno says he has yet to decide what starting eleven he will put out against the Italians for the first leg in Turin, but whichever 11 takes to the pitch, he is convinced they will be strong enough to get the job done. “We’ve been preparing since the beginning of the season for these kind of cycles. Having three days, it’s difficult, but we are ready to play,”
Nuno said. “We’ll decide [the team] tomorrow. We’ll have a strong XI and we’ll compete.”
Both sides finished seventh in their respective leagues last season with Wolves nine points adrift of Manchester United in sixth in their first season back in the top flight and Torino only three worse off than Roma.
The Italians are yet to kick off their domestic season, but have disposed of Hungarians Debrecen and Belarussian side Shakhtyor Soligorsk, scoring 13 goals in the process.
Wolves, who have eased their way past Crusaders of Northern Ireland and Armenia’s Pyunik and found the back of the net 14 times, have drawn with both Leicester and Manchester United in the league.
In the circumstances, Nuno is expecting no quarter to be asked or given in Turin.
He said: “Torino is a very good team, very organised, good players and manager. It’s going to be tough for us. It’s a very good team and a very tough challenge for us. “They have a good defence, organisation, strong midfield, good strikers – we have to look at all the team. It’s going to be a very good game tomorrow, for sure. “[Last season’s] table doesn’t mean much in these moments. What we and Torino did last season isn’t relevant now.”
Torino are managed by former Watford and Inter Milan boss Walter Mazzarri, who is also expecting a tough encounter this evening. “Wolves certainly need no introduction as they stopped Manchester United, who are one of the best teams in the world,” he said.
