WOLVES boss Nuno Espirito Santo says Eddie Howe is someone "I admire and respect a lot" as the pair prepare to do battle tomorrow.

Howe's men are set to welcome Wolves to Vitality Stadium (3pm), with the pair locked on 16 points apiece from their 12 Premier League matches this season.

Discussing the prospect of facing Cherries, Espirito Santo said: "They're a very good team with a very good manager and very good players.

"It's going to be very, very tough. We have to compete well because Bournemouth is no doubt a very, very good team.

"The work of Eddie is fantastic.

"We met him last season, we had time to chat. I admire and respect him a lot.

"All these years that he's been in Bournemouth, he's doing an amazing job."

Wolves are left sweating on the fitness of duo Ryan Bennett and Adama Traore ahead of the trip to the south coast.

"We have a couple of players that we have to assess," said Espirito Santo.

"Adama has an injury that he had from before in the last game, during the break, but we have to assess him.

"Bennett is getting better but, like I said, we have to assess, there are a lot of things we still have to work on."