Wolves v Preston preview: Pass-masters hope to stay top

Romain Saiss, a player who struggled with inconsistency and form during almost all of last season, has made 622 successful passes so far in 2017/18 – more than any other player in the Championship.

The Moroccan is a player reborn and beginning to dominate games with the class and style he has always possessed but showed too little of.

Not far behind him in the Championship passing stakes in Ruben Neves in fifth place with 564.

The pair are both likely to start against Preston at Molineux tomorrow and if they do those stats are sure to rapidly increase.

Preston enjoyed just 29 per cent of possession in their 2-2 draw at Fulham last weekend – a game they should have won having been 2-0 up with 16 minutes to go and then 2-1 up with just seconds left on the clock.

Wolves experienced difficulty in overcoming determined, physical opposition against Millwall and Barnsley last month and tomorrow’s game – against better, more confident opposition – will undoubtedly be a stern test of their promotion credentials.

An early goal would be perfect but otherwise patience will be key for Nuno’s men.

They’ve had great success with their new passing style but captain Danny Batth believes there’s still plenty of work to do to perfect it.

“It is difficult when you have so much possession,” he said.

“I think the fans can see what we are trying to do and how we are going to play.

“It is not going to happen overnight, we have still got work to do.

“We look really organised and even players on the bench or in the stand will know what is required if they need to come in and play.

“That is key. Players are pushing each other every day.

“We have such a good squad no player can afford to think we have done alright and got a win and we can relax.

“That can’t be the mentality if you want to do anything. You can’t underestimate how much it means to the area and the fans who have been through some tough times.

“Hopefully we can keep winning.”

Nuno must choose between Leo Bonatini and Helder Costa, after the Brazilian made a positive impact with a second-half goal when replacing Costa at half-time during last week’s 2-0 win over Villa.

Elsewhere, he’s likely to pick the same side, with the only variable being in the defensive positions if Willy Boly is fit to start.

Even then, after successive clean sheets, it would be hard to drop one of Batth, Conor Coady and the in-form Roderick Miranda.

Wolves also face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday which is when a number of fringe and fit-again players such as Boly, Ryan Bennett, Ben Marshall, Ruben Vinagre, Jack Price and Bright Enobakhare are likely to feature.

Likely line ups

Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy; Batth, Coady, Miranda; Doherty, Neves, Saiss, Douglas; Cavaleiro, Bonatini, Jota. Subs: Norris, Boly, Vinagre, N'Diaye, Marshall, Costa, Enobakhare.

Preston (4-2-3-1): Maxwell; Fisher, Huntington, Davies, Earl; Pearson, Johnson; Barkhuizen, Browne, Harrop; Hugill.

Key players

Wolves: Ruben Neves – Wolves are likely to see plenty of the ball against a Preston team that had 29 per cent possession in their last match. If Neves dominates the game as he did against Villa then Wolves could thrive.

Preston: Jordan Hugill – A handful for any Championship defence, Hugill has scored six times already this season. The 25-year-old came close to joining Wolves this summer but a deal couldn’t be agreed. He later handed in a transfer request but certainly looks happy now as he continues an impressive rise since joining from Port Vale in 2014.

Memory lane

Wolves hammered Preston 6-0 on their way to the Division Three title in 1988. Steve Bull scored four and Nigel Vaughan and Andy Mutch also netted.