Wolves have never hidden their ambitions. At a business breakfast event in the city in September 2018, then-managing director Laurie Dalrymple spoke of his pride at Wolves’s progress over the previous two years.

For the past three seasons, the top of the Premier League has been a closed shop. While both Manchester United and Arsenal have recently dropped out of the Champions League places, so far their financial advantages and traditional pulling power for top players have kept their heads above water.

The return of the Premier League always provokes mixed feelings. On the down side, it heralds the onset of long winter nights with nothing to do but watch football; on the up side, it heralds the onset of long winter nights with nothing to do but watch football.

So that’s Wednesday nearly wrapped up. Here’s some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening.

Romelu Lukaku trained with Anderlecht for the second successive day as the wantaway striker looks for a Manchester United exit.

New Cork City boss Neale Fenn has warned there will be no “class of 92” style reunion as he begins working with some of his old team-mates from the club’s 2005 title-winning campaign.

The Ivory Coast international has had to wait seven months for his full debut but he made his mark as Celtic quickly regained top spot on goal difference following Rangers’ 1-0 win over St Mirren earlier in the day.

Doctors are attempting to wean him off a respirator after he suffered serious head injuries and broken bones in his neck.

Ireland international striker Callum Robinson will be fit for Sheffield United’s clash with Leicester tomorrow (3pm Bramall Lane). Robinson came off injured against Crystal Palace but is recovered, according to Blades boss Chris Wilder.

Change…do any of us really like it?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not believe Manchester United’s spot-kick situation needs addressing despite Paul Pogba’s penalty miss costing his side victory at Wolves.

Manchester United have condemned racial abuse which was aimed at midfielder Paul Pogba on social media after his missed penalty in the 1-1 draw at Wolves on Monday night.

Paul Pogba squandered the chance to send Manchester United to the top of the fledgling table as he missed yet another Premier League penalty.

Mauricio Pochettino wore the smile of a proud man after his Tottenham team somehow escaped with a point from the Etihad, but beneath that was the stark realisation that his club is in danger of being left behind in the Premier League arms race.

To understand the man, sometimes you have to have met him as a boy.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer moved a step closer to becoming Aston Villa’s next manager as he held talks with owner Randy Lerner yesterday.

Pub quiz time: What European country has produced most European Cup-winning players without a domestic club lifting the prize?

For Roberto Di Matteo, being crowned champion of Europe might not be enough.

Giovanni Trapattoni has described his annoyance at the fact John O’Shea risked aggravating an injury on the eve of the European Championship finals, saying that it was “silly” and “naive” of him to play for Sunderland in last Sunday’s game against Manchester United.

Frank Lampard, normally the kind of serious and professionally-focused character more concerned with leading by example than with bawling out instructions to his team-mates, is exercising his vocal chords this week as he prepares to step into John Terry’s shoes and captain Chelsea in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.