Wolves boss Nuno: We must handle Mitrovic

Serbia striker Mitrovic scored and was man-of-the-match when Fulham beat Wolves 2-0 in February, one of just seven defeats Nuno’s team suffered last season. The Wolves head coach knows that stopping the 24-year-old, who has netted 13 times for club and country this season, will be key to Wolves’ hopes on Boxing Day.

“Last season in that moment he was a player who really helped them to get promoted,” Nuno said. “Their performance was fantastic and he is a very good player. I think he is one of the strikers who plays better with his back against the goal and we have to work on that.

"Last season he created a lot of problems, especially because he was man to man with our last reference of defence. We have to balance better.”

Fulham are rock bottom of the Premier League having won only two of their 18 matches and kept just one clean sheet, which came in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Newcastle United.

But Nuno says Wolves’ approach won’t differ from how they took on the league leaders Liverpool in their last game.

“From our point of view the approach will be exactly the same,” he added.

“For sure it is going to be tough because Fulham we played last season and in the situation they have now as the season goes by all the teams start fighting for their lives. That changes the reality of the game so it is going to be very tough.

“What I expect is a very well-organised team, very well balanced team. A team who is managed by a manager who was champion of the Premier League. It is going to be very difficult. Claudio Ranieri is fantastic. Last season both teams were fighting to be promoted. Now the squads are totally different.

“We stay more with the core of our side and maintain our main basis. I don’t know the decisions Fulham made but it is not the same team we faced last season.

“What I can see is they have a very good manager and they are trying to get back on their ideas. I see a better team.”