While the majority of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ focus is on finding a new manager following the departure of Bruno Lage last weekend, the Old Gold must ensure that they are fully prepared for a tough game against Chelsea this weekend.
Lage was sacked after a 2-0 defeat against West Ham United saw Wolves drop into the relegation places and things don’t get any easier for the Midlands club, as they travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
If the Old Gold want to put memories of Lage’s dismal football, which resulted in just three Premier League goals this season, behind them, then interim management duo Steve Davis and James Collins must hand Diego Costa his first start in a Wolves shirt.
The Brazilian-born forward made his return to the Premier League in the defeat against West Ham and looked threatening, sending a late header just over.
The 34-year-old will no doubt be hungry to prove himself against his former side Chelsea, for whom he hit 59 goals in 120 appearances between 2014 and 2017.
It would be typical of Costa to score against his old side and given Wolves’ woeful record in front of goal so far this season, Davis and Collins must seek out any potential advantage they can utilise as they look to turn the Old Gold’s season around against Graham Potter’s side.
They also don’t have many other options in attack, as Sasa Kalajdzic is ruled out with an ACL injury, while Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto are also sidelined, so Costa is surely in line to make his full debut.
To make matters worse, both Nathan Collins and Ruben Neves will miss the game through suspension, which leaves Davis and Collins with very few senior options, so the Old Gold will have to produce something truly special if they are to earn their second Premier League win of the season.
Costa is certainly capable of producing big moments, having done so regularly in his career with Chelsea and Atletico Madrid. During his time with the Spanish side, Diego Simeone sang his praises, saying:
“This was his best game since he came back with us, he’s a beast, he was running all the time, putting pressure on the opponent, breaking his mark.”
That is exactly what Wolves’ front line will need to do on Saturday if they are to cause Chelsea’s defence any problems, so Collins and Davis must hand the £50k-per-week Costa his first start in a Wolves shirt, in the hope that he can bring something back to a Wolves attack that was bereft of quality and confidence under Lage.