Irons face stern Wolves test – will Noble make it?

A candidate to take over as skipper should Nobes not be selected.

So we spring (if that’s the right word) into action again as the first Friday night game of the renewed campaign.

And frankly – however we feel about it –  we simply have to focus on survival and the first game could hardly be more difficult.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are currently vying for a Europa Cup qualifying place with Sheffield United and they will know whether the Blades have gone above them – the two teams are currently in sixth and seventh places separated only by goal difference.

Sheffield United meet Aston Villa ahead of our game and whatever the result Wolves will be going for it big time. That’s not to say we won’t but it’s as tough a start as we would NOT have hoped for.

The Hammers have Aaron Cresswell back in training and it’s probably fair to assume that Angelo Ogbonna will be fit again leaving the manager to select from a fully fit squad.

There are some tricky issues however, the first being Ryan Fredericks involvement who has been pretty hit and miss at times. Ben Johnson stands by.

In midfield the big poser is whether the skipper gets in with Rice, Fornals, Soucek and Bowen looking our most natural four for a long time. Moyes may well decide we need Noble’s leadership so we will see.

Will it be Anderson in front of them and behind Haller or will we go with the French striker and Michail Antonio?

It’s an intriguing and tense start and my team would be: Fabianski, Johnson, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice (Capt), Soucek, Fornals, Bowen; Haller, Antonio.  

Prediction (assuming all are fit ) 2-2

And okay, I know it’s early days but one gets sick of discussing the bug and it’s effects.

COYI