Wolves v Sheffield United: Diogo Jota eager to keep hot streak going

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are welcoming the Blades to Molineux, aiming to make it nine unbeaten in the Premier League.

They are also entering the encounter fresh off making it to the Europa League knockout stages, courtesy of a 3-3 draw at Braga on Thursday.

And Jota – on if this term could be even better than the last when Wolves finished seventh in the league and got to the FA Cup semi-finals – said: “Last season, we had a very good Premier League and made that run in the FA Cup.

“That was special for our fans. But this season, we have that competition as well and we are involved in Europa League matches, so who knows?”

Chris Wilder’s United are yet to lose on the road this term and have turned a lot of heads upon their return to the top flight, similarly to how Wolves did last campaign.

They are sixth in the table, while Nuno’s side are fifth.

The hosts, though, will fancy their chances in attack despite how well the Blades have done so far.

Raul Jimenez is already on 15 goals in all competitions, and Adama Traore has chipped in with an impressive six goals and nine assists from the right.

Jota, on the left, has not scored for several weeks – but has been playing well.

“Everyone that is playing good helps the team,” said Jota, who is still striving for improvement individually and collectively.

“Adama is one of those, but everyone is playing good at the moment I think.

“We are scoring goals, we are conceding as well, and maybe we should improve on that.

“But having more attacking players, it doesn’t help so much defending.

“We have to know when we play with 5-3-2 it is different to playing 5-2-3, of course we score more goals but we concede more goals as well.

“I am happy to play in every system. Last season, we started one way and finished the other.

“This season it is happening the opposite, but things happen naturally.”

Wolves will be hoping to keep things tighter at the back after drawing 3-3 in Portugal on Thursday despite being 3-1 up at the break.

Summing up that game, Jota said: “It is a mixture of feelings because we felt we should have won the game, but in the end what matters is we are qualified for the knockout stage, and we are very pleased with that.

“It was special, my family came to the game. In the end we are happy because we qualified for the next stage.”

He added: “We are a small squad, and it is hard to manage the team, so this is a good step.

“But I think it (a small squad) is a choice for the club and the manager, and we are used to that because it has been that way since we reached England. We are used to that.”

Wolves are without Romain Saiss, who is suspended due to accumulating five bookings in the league.

That leaves Nuno with a selection poser on the left side of the back three.

Ryan Bennett is due to be assessed after not making the trip to Braga because of a groin issue, which has affected him over the past month.

Morgan Gibbs-White did not go to Portugal either due to a back problem.

If Bennett is not fit, it is between Max Kilman and Jesus Vallejo as to who replaces Saiss.

Kilman has impressed in the Europa but is yet to start a game in the top flight.

Vallejo, meanwhile, has struggled since arriving on loan from Real Madrid and not featured in the league since a dismal display as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Southampton.

Wolves likely line-up (3-4-3): Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Kilman; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Otto; Traore, Jimenez, Jota