Wolverhampton Wanderers make a swift return to Premier League action on Tuesday evening, when they face Burnley at Molineux. The hosts head into the game looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal, while the visitors will be in fine spirits after putting relegation rivals Sheffield United to the sword with a 5-0 thumping at Turf Moor. Last weekend’s defeat leaves Wolves lying in 13th place in the table heading into a busy festive period this month, and with just one win in their last five matches the pressure is on to put together an improved run of form ahead of the new year. Ahead of kick-off, here is the latest Wolves team news and injury updates, plus the predicted XI to take on Vincent Kompany’s side.

Gary O’Neil is confident that star goalkeeper Jose Sa will be back in time to face the Clarets. The Portuguese stopper suffered a back spasm that saw him substituted in the narrow loss to the Gunners, but should recover in time for Tuesday evening. Elsewhere, Algerian ace Rayan Ait-Nouri is expected to miss out, after rolling his ankle and damaging ligaments against Fulham last month. However, he should return to action later this month. Pedro Neto looks unlikely to feature against Burnley despite edging closer to returning from a hamstring strain, while midfielder Joe Hodge is still recovering from a shoulder injury. Fellow youngster Nathan Fraser is also hopeful of returning to action soon, but Tuesday’s clash is likely to come too soon for the 18-year-old as he looks to overcome a muscular injury. In terms of suspensions, both £15m man Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina are available for selection after serving their respective bans.

Goalkeeper and defence

Backup goalkeeper Dan Bentley is unlikely to be called upon again this week, with Sa set to start between the sticks for his side. Wolves could name an unchanged back three against Arsenal, with Toti, Craig Dawson and Max Kilman all expected to be ready to start against the Clarets. In the wing-back positions, Hugo Bueno is likely to continue his role replacing the injured Ait-Nouri, but there is a chance that Matt Doherty could be handed his second Premier League start since returning to the club last summer. On the opposite flank, the marauding Nelson Semedo looks set to start, and will be aiming to add to the one assist he’s managed to register so far this term.

Wolves’ midfield will benefit from the return of both Lemina and Gomes, who will have fresh legs and be raring to go after missing out last weekend. Frenchman Jean-Ricner Bellegarde looks most likely to complete the midfield trio. Up front, Hwang Hee-chan will be looking to add to his impressive haul of seven Premier League goal so far this season, and he’ll be joined by Matheus Cunha, who netted in the loss to Arsenal. Wolves predicted XI: Sa; Toti, Dawson, Kilman; Bueno, Bellegarde, Gomes, Lemina, Semedo; Cunha, Hwang.