Wagner must shuffle pack for Wolves

which drew 1-1 with West Ham United, when Town played with a five-man back line.

Zanka was alongside Christopher Schindler and Terence Kongolo at the heart of defence, while Lowe and Flo Hadergjonaj were the wing-backs.

Erik Durm replaced Lowe when he was injured, and that would seem a logical swap for Sunday’s late kick-off.

But what will Wagner do to cover the centre-back position?

If the boss decides to counter Wolves’ pace and counter-attacking threat with a five-man back line, then Jon Gorenc Stankovic could be drafted in for the first time since August.

He is a central defender, of course, but his only opportunities so far came in the horrendous 6-1 defeat to Manchester City, when he scored Town’s goal, and the Carabao Cup exit to Stoke City.

Before those two matches, the Slovenian U21 international had spent well over a year on the sidelines after suffering a cruciate-ligament knee injury.

Against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, Stankovic would bring the required pace, so it’s really just a question of match sharpness.

Stankovic was not included in the matchday squads against Fulham or West Ham United and last appeared on the bench at Watford on October 27 – basically a month ago. Wagner has the option of reverting to a back four, of course, and shuffling his midfield. It may prompt the use of a wingman to combat Wolves pace, with possibly one of the regular three – Aaron Mooy perhaps? – moving to a wider role. And if Mooy is deemed not quite ready following his appearances against South Korea and Lebanon with Australia, then Wagner might opt to go with wide pace to support Phil Billing and Jonathan Hogg in the centre of midfield, so the likes of Ramadan Sobhi, Isaac Mbenza, Adama Diakhaby and Rajiv van La Parra could come into the manager’s thinking. Van La Parra is a former Wolves player and has previously shown he can link well with No10 Alex Pritchard and the lone striker, whether it’s Steve Mounie or Laurent Depoitre. You’d have to think Mounie will lead the attack again – having scored for Benin during the international week – and having led the line with genuine aerial power against the Hammers.

Against Wolves, Stankovic would bring the required pace, so it’s really a question of sharpness