Newcastle v Wolves preview: Wolves need Jorgen Strand Larsen fit and firing

As exclusively revealed by the Express & Star, the Magpies were targeting a move for Jorgen Strand Larsen back in July, but it was not until August 25 that Newcastle made their first bid of £50million that was immediately turned down.

Newcastle swiftly returned with a £55million offer that was also instantly rejected and they put the feelers out about a £60million bid, but that never officially came as Wolves chairman Jeff Shi insisted Larsen was not for sale.

He stood firm on that decision, despite Larsen making it clear behind the scenes that he wanted the move.

But the transfer window closed with Larsen still contracted to Wolves and since then the striker has pulled out of the Norwegian national side due to the Achilles injury that kept him out of the defeat to Everton, while talks have begun over a new contract that will see Larsen receive a pay rise if a deal can be struck.

Had Newcastle's official approaches come early in the transfer window, Wolves may well be lining up against Larsen at St. James' Park on Saturday, but instead he will be Vitor Pereira's player for the foreseeable future and the manager must get the best out of him.

Whether he plays against Newcastle or not, Larsen will be a key player for Wolves in the coming weeks and months and having him fit and firing will be crucial.

Hwang Hee-chan started and scored as the number nine against Everton last time out and could play again, while Wolves have a new signing of their own in Tolu Arokodare.

The 24-year-old played in both of Nigeria's games in this international break - scoring in one - and he comes with a strong goalscoring pedigree from his time in Belgium with Genk.

He is fairly similar to Larsen in that he is tall, strong, athletic and a finisher - and he could make his debut on Saturday.

Ladislav Krejci could also get his first Wolves minutes after being an unused substitute against Everton, just days after his move from Girona.

His signing does offer another left-footed centre-back option, but it could also be the start of a defensive switch up from Pereira, with Krejci coming into the middle of the back three and out-of-form Emmanuel Agbadou shifting to the right.

Pereira has already admitted he will make plenty of changes with his big squad this season and the bloated defence may be difficult to predict, with so many players vying for limited spots.

As a result, if there are few injuries, then a handful of players could miss out on the squad.

Larsen's involvement, and how well Ki-Jana Hoever has recovered from his knee knock, will play a part in who makes the squad. If they are available, centre-backs such as Yerson Mosquera and Santi Bueno, or wing-back Rodrigo Gomes, could be at risk.

Whatever squad is assembled against Newcastle, Wolves must start to pick up points sooner rather than later.

A trip to the north east will prove a difficult one, but fixtures against the three promoted sides in the coming weeks could go a long way to defining Wolves' season and whether they can prove the doubters wrong.