WOLVES boss Vitor Pereira says confidence is key as his side prepare to kick off a daunting run of Premier League fixtures with a trip to Newcastle tonight.

Last week’s home defeat to Nottingham Forest was Pereira’s first setback since replacing Gary O’Neil and dumped his side back in the relegation zone with games against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool looming.

But Pereira, who is boosted by the respective returns of Nelson Semedo and Matheus Cunha from injury and suspension for the trip to St James’ Park, is undaunted by the challenge of leading his new side away from danger.

“We need to have confidence inside of us,” Pereira told a press conference. “I don’t believe in ‘Supermen’, it’s the other side – 11 players – against our side – 11 players – and we always have a chance.

“If we play against the best team in the world, we have our chance. If we play with the right energy, the right commitment, the right team spirit and if we face with courage, we can win.”

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Pereira knows he could do worse than emulate the project undertaken by Eddie Howe in the north-east, with the Magpies heading into the game on a high on the back of a run of eight consecutive wins in all competitions.

He added: “Eddie is a top coach. When I look at a coach, I look not at what they say, but at their teams and what they build, and Newcastle is a very strong team.

“Of course, Eddie has been at Newcastle for a long time and it’s easier to build something strong, and this is my intention in Wolverhampton – to build something strong.

“(But) we need to explore our key points and to try to cancel them out and try not to allow them to play in the way that they like to play.”

Craig Dawson and Mario Lemina will also be available to return to action but Pereira is determined to remain cautious as his side’s injury problems begin to ease.

“Nelson, Dawson and Cunha will be ready for the match, but they are coming from injury so we need to be careful about the minutes that they can play,” he added.