Preview: Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s vs. West Ham United Under-21s - prediction, team news, lineups

The two teams are currently locked on the same points in 10th and 11th spot in the table respectively, albeit with Wolves having played one game fewer.

Match preview

Wherever Wolves finish in the Under-21 standings this season, they can claim to have had a successful season with several of their young crop earning first-team experience.

The likes of Dexter Lembikisa and Tyler Roberts have also been away on international duty with Jamaica this month, while Joe Hodge earned regular game time in the Premier League before the influx of January signings.

Nevertheless, James Collins will be eager for the club to retain their top-tier status, Wolves currently just two points above the bottom two after a three-match undefeated streak came to an end at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Seagulls called on Levi Colwill on that occasion, boosting their defence, yet Wolves were two goals down after 28 minutes and their consolation effort in a 3-1 defeat came in the final minute.

With a four-point gap to ninth place and no fixtures remaining against teams below them aside from the Hammers, Wolves are under pressure to deliver with just five matches of the season remaining.

The same can be said for West Ham who have only been able to recover to 11th spot after an abysmal start to the season, despite recently collecting 10 points from four games.

One of those wins came at top-of-the-table Chelsea, but the young Hammers went down by a 5-1 scoreline at Manchester City at the beginning of this month.

Three of the players who featured in that defeat - Levi Laing, Freddie Potts and Divin Mubama - were all provided with valuable senior minutes in the Europa Conference League versus AEK Larnaca on Thursday night.

Earlier in the season, West Ham prevailed by a 3-1 scoreline in the reverse fixture, Mubama netting two of the goals on that occasion.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s Premier League 2 - Div 1 form:

L

L

W

W

D

L

West Ham United Under-21s Premier League 2 - Div 1 form:

L

W

W

D

W

L

Team News

While Lembikisa and Roberts are due back for Wolves, they will be without central-midfield duo Hodge and Owen Hesketh.

With Wolves possessing a number of injuries, a switch to a back three is not out of the question unless Ollie Tipton or Kem Kandola deputise in midfield alongside Temple Ojinnaka.

West Ham will make a change in goal with goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi being selected to feature in the senior Hungary squad.

Mubama is also away with England Under-19s, leaving Jacob Knightbridge and Gideon Kodua to be handed opportunities in their place.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s possible starting lineup:

Arinbjornsson; Lembikisa, Kandola, Marques, Hubner; Roberts, Tipton, Ojinnaka, Farmer; Barnett; Harper

West Ham United Under-21s possible starting lineup:

Knightbridge; Potts, Luizao, Laing; Chesters, Appiah-Forson, Orford, Clayton; Swyer, Kodua, Oko-Flex

We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s 1-1 West Ham United Under-21s

With some players absent due to international duty, this is a difficult match to call. West Ham's crop will be on a high having seen several of their players earn senior game time in Europe, but we feel that Wolves may do enough to earn a share of the spoils on home territory.

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