Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo has named seven new signings for their home encounter with Middlesbrough this afternoon as the new Championship season gets underway.

The former Porto boss opts for a 3-4-3 formation - tested heavily during pre-season - with Brazilian striker Leo Bonatini spearheading the attack with support from Atletico Madrid loanee Diogo Jota and Wolves academy graduate Bright Enobakhare.

The club and Championship record signing Ruben Neves starts alongside Romain Saiss in the heart of the midfield, with Barry Douglas on the left wing and Matt Doherty on the right.

Conor Coady takes on the captaincy and marshalls the three-man defence, alongside Porto loanee Willy Boly at left-back and Roderick Miranda at right-back. John Ruddy, who joined on a free from Norwich City last month, takes his place between the sticks.

Ivan Cavaleiro is suspended for the clash after seeing red on the last day of last season, while Helder Costa (ankle) and Ben Marshall (hip) are out for the foreseeable.

Options on the bench include striker Nouha Dicko, who picked up a knock in pre-season, and Wolves stalwarts Dave Edwards and Danny Batth.

For promotion favourites Middlesbrough, meanwhile, Garry Monk names an all-new front three of Martin Braithwaite, Ashley Fletcher and Britt Assombalonga, bought for a combined £30.5m this summer.

Marten De Roon and Adam Clayton are joined in midfield by Jonny Howson, who joined from rivals Norwich City last month, while Cyrus Christie slots in alongside a familiar defensive trio of George Friend, Daniel Ayala and Ben Gibson.

Between the sticks, Darren Randolph takes the number one jersey following Brad Guzan's departure for MLS side Atlanta United.

Attacking options at Monk's disposal on the bench include Rudy Gestede and Patrick Bamford.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ruddy; Miranda, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Saiss, Neves, Douglas; Enobakhare, Bonatini, Jota
Subs: Norris, Edwards, Bennett, Batth, Dicko, Graham, Ronan

Middlesbrough: Randolph; Christie, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; De Roon, Clayton, Howson; Fletcher, Braithwaite, Assombalonga
Subs: Dimi, Fabio, Fry, Leadbitter, Forshaw, Bamford, Gestede

Written by
Neil Wilkes