Prince Oniangue returns in Wolves Under-23s defeat

The Congo international hadn't featured yet this season for either the under-23s or Nuno Espirito Santo's first team after being frozen out, but played 90 minutes at New Bucks Head on Monday evening.

Kortney Hause – out since the start of pre-season through injury – also played, as did Michal Zyro and Connor Ronan.

Donovan Wilson took Ronan's pass before shooting at keeper Viktor Johansson in an early Wolves chance, before Villa took the lead on 20 minutes when Harry McKirdy headed home a corner.

Dutch winger Sherwin Seedorf saw a shot deflected just wide and then on 30 minutes Villa doubled their advantage with another goal from McKirdy.

Hause brilliantly blocked Callum O'Hare's effort off the line just before half time as Villa threatened to run away with it.

Johansson saved Zyro's header and a Seedorf volley shortly after the break with Wolves looking for a way back into the game and the keeper was forced into action again when he superbly blocked a 25-yard Ronan free kick.

The Swedish keeper also saved from substitute Dan Armstrong before Wolves' Harry Burgoyne had to be at his best to block from his own team mate when Hakeem Odoffin turned a Villa cross towards his own net.

Aaron Collins replaced Jose Xavier up front for the final 13 minutes but Wolves couldn't get past the Villa defence and the game ended 2-0 to the visitors, in a role reversal of the first-team match at Molineux on Saturday.

Wolves (4-4-2): Burgoyne; Oniangue, Odoffin, Hause, Deslandes; Zyro, Ronan, Goncalves, Seedorf (Armstrong, 52); Wilson, Xavier (Collins, 77). Subs not used: Rasmussen, John, Yang.