Analysis: Can Ait-Nouri step up for Wolves in Cunha's absence?

Adrian Clarke looks at key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 20.

Team analysis: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Since being appointed head coach, Vitor Pereira has re-energised Wolves, collecting seven points from his first three matches in charge.

That impressive run has taken them out of the relegation zone, but with talisman Matheus Cunha suspended for Monday night’s match at home to Nottingham Forest, the new head coach at Molineux must find a way to win without his best player.

WOL

20:00

NFO

close

TV Info - Broadcasters

The Brazilian playmaker has been in extraordinary form this season, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists.

Taking on the mantle of a leader too, Cunha’s free role and all-action style has seen him lead every attacking metric for Wolves.

Finding a way to carry the same threat without him is their challenge against Forest as they seek to continue climbing up the table.

Relegation battle

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
15	Crystal Palace CRY	20	-7	21
16	Everton EVE	19	-10	17
17	Wolves WOL	19	-11	16
18	Ipswich IPS	20	-15	16
19	Leicester LEI	20	-21	14
20	Southampton SOU	20	-32	6

View More

Who can be Wolves' main man without Cunha?

Algerian international Rayan Ait-Nouri is Pereira’s second most-creative player, so it is vital he steps up with an influential performance on Monday night.

The high-flying left wing-back is enjoying the best season of his career, delivering five assists and three goals across his 18 Premier League appearances.

Those five assists are a team-high this season.

In fact, during 2024, Ait-Nouri was involved in more top-flight goals than any other defender in the division, with 11 direct involvements (five goals and six assists).

When you study the creative impact made by Wolves’ players inside the final third so far in 2024/25, Ait-Nouri is second only to Cunha.

Cunha v Ait-Nouri creativity 24/25

Ait-Nouri has played as a left winger for Wolves, and last season he even had a productive spell under Gary O’Neil as a left-sided No 10.

So he could fill in for Cunha in a like-for-like role.

His brilliant assist for the Brazilian star at home to Chelsea earlier on this season, running infield with the ball from halfway before reversing a pass inside the box, was an indication of how he could deputise.

This shot assist map for Ait-Nouri also proves that he does create opportunities from infield areas, as well from the left flank.

Ait-Nouri's attacking influence 24/25

If Pereira wants to push Ait-Nouri on and deploy him in the Cunha role, his starting XI could look something like this, with Rodrigo Gomes coming in at left wing-back.

As he is playing so well as a left wing-back in Vitor Pereira’s 3-4-2-1 shape, it is perhaps more likely Ait-Nouri will stay in his current role.

If that happens, Pereira could simply hand the Algerian greater freedom to push on into midfield and advanced positions while Cunha is suspended.

With Ait-Nouri staying put, we could see Hwang Hee-chan just drop in to a position behind centre-forward Jorgen Strand Larsen.

A blossoming partnership

Ait-Nouri’s relationship with striker Strand Larsen is also something Wolves’ new head coach will want to encourage the pair to develop.

Earlier on this season, Ait-Nouri supplied a classy near-post cross for the Norwegian to finish at Brentford, and his sublime through-ball for his equaliser at Tottenham Hotspur last time out was Cunha-esque in its quality.

Ait-Nouri's assist for Strand Larsen v Spurs

Strand Larsen’s value to the side is not just built around goals, even though he stands on a respectable seven.

He works tirelessly out of possession to close down defenders, making 505 pressures so far this season, bettered only by Dominic Solanke (773) and Liam Delap (577) among Premier League strikers.

Strand Larsen’s movement is also perpetual motion.

His willingness to make run after run in search of a pass, is ideal for creative types like Cunha and Ait-Nouri.

Wolves are a stronger outfit when the loanee striker leads the line.

PL forwards' running stats 24/25

How is Pereira changing the approach?

The Portuguese head coach has stuck with the 3-4-2-1 that was used by O’Neil in the lead up to his departure from Molineux.

The most noticeable change is the calmness Pereira seems to have brought to the side.

Wolves were measured and clinical in victories against Leicester City and Manchester United.

Surpassing their season average of 336.5 successful passes per match, Pereira’s men totalled 400 and 394 in those two contests respectively.

Wolves still have issues defending corners, with Spurs scoring the 10th goal they have conceded from such situations this season.

But at the other end of the pitch, Pereira has had a positive influence on set plays.

They deliberately crowded Andre Onana for Cunha’s stunning "Olimpico" direct from a corner, and Hwang’s goal at Spurs last time out came from a fabulous free-kick routine.

Hwang's goal v Spurs

It has been a promising start from Pereira, but all eyes will be on him on Monday night to see what type of game plan and approach he adopts without Cunha.

If he gets it right, ending Forest’s fantastic five-match win streak, will make his stock rise even further at Molineux..

Also in this series