Predicted Wolves team to face Brighton: Huge selection boost; Lambert to drop two?

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Here is how we expect Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton and Hove Albion to line-up ahead of their Championship meeting.

To be played on Friday 14th April 2017 at 17:00. Venue: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton

Odds: Wolves 23/10, Draw 23/10, Brighton 11/10

Wolverhampton Wanders welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to Molineux for a Good Friday Championship encounter.

After missing the last three games through injury, Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme looks set to extend his absence from the first team, as the Nigeria international stopper is taking longer than expected to recover from a hamstring issue suffered whilst representing the Super Eagles.

Wolves boss Paul Lambert is expected to offset the unavailability of his number 1 by retaining experienced deputy Andy Lonergan behind an unchanged back four – including the now seemingly settled pairing of Kortney Hause and captain Danny Batth in central defence.

Whilst Ikeme’s injury remains somewhat of a cloud over Wolves’ end of season run-in, the proverbial silver lining presents itself in the form of the returning Helder Costa for the visit of Brighton.

Costa, who has been Wolves’ standout performer throughout the campaign, is due to feature following recovery from an injury suffered in the warm-up prior to the Wanderers’ 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the start of the month.

In other team news, following Wolves’ 3-1 defeat to Bristol City last time out, Lambert may well afford midfielders Ivan Cavaleiro and Romain Saiss with starting berths – at the expense of Lee Evans and rookie Morgan Gibbs-White.

Meanwhile, opponents Brighton have close to a full strength squad to select from – with Seagulls’ manager Chris Hughton able to call upon Gaetan Bong, Liam Rosenior and Beram Kayal, after the trio were rested for their victory over Queens Park Rangers.

Here is our predicted line-up for both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton and Hove Albion, in full: