July 2008 Archives

WOLVES goalkeeper Matt Murray has taken a step forward along the road to recovery from his serious knee injury.

But the 27-year-old will not be in first-team contention for some time yet. And manager Mick McCarthy, while welcoming Murray's progress, today stressed the top priority for the Solihull-born player was the long term.

It is to make sure that, when Murray does return, he does so ready to get not just more games but more seasons under his belt.

ANDY Keogh's second-half strike separated the sides as he finished off a flowing three-man move.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy described the goal as the one bit of quality in the game but it would have been a different story had Walsall striker Michael Ricketts put his shooting boots on.

The Saddlers only received clearence at 5pm to play their prodigal son, now having his third spell with Walsall, and he entered the fray two minutes after half-time.

WOLVES manager Mick McCarthy may have already pencilled in his first choice strikers for the forthcoming Championship campaign but he is delighted that he may now have something of a selection headache.

McCarthy is pinning his hopes for promotion this season on his known entity of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Andy Keogh but is thrilled Chris Iwelumo and Sam Vokes have come in and staked a possible claim for that role during the recent pre-season trip to Scotland.

The pair's poaching skills in Saturday's 3-0 win at Kilmarnock was just what the manager ordered with Iwelumo striking twice - once with a free-kick - and Vokes from close range and he now hopes the strikers will provide more of the same whenever they are called upon.

Scottish-born Iwelumo joined Wolves from Chalrton Athletic and Vokes from Bournemouth and both are now making a real impression on the boss.

McCarthy said: "That's just what I've been asking for. Chris was lively and I certainly know now what he brings to the party and that's what he showed.

"He scored one from a free kick after good delivery from Micky Gray and the other one was an example of something we've been banging on at our strikers to do for I don't know how long - getting across the near post or the keeper.

"He did it but that's why there have been changes in that department because I want centre forwards that get in the box, get across the keeper and attack the far post and he does it."

Ebanks-Blake and Keogh have been given the box seat because of the way they linked up during the second half of the last campaign but the manager now knows he has at least two other strikers prepared to gatecrash the party.

He said: "Both Chris and Sam want to score goals and now I know we've got four good strikers. Sylvan and Andy have been a really good partnership but these two have given me something to think about.

"All the positions are up for grabs and they are all working hard because they want to get in the team."

STOKE City have swooped to sign Wolves midfielder Seyi Olofinjana for £3 million after fending off competition from a host of Premier League rivals.

The Nigerian powerhouse will become the second most expensive player in Potters history, subject to a fresh work permit being granted next week.

Olofinjana has agreed a four-year deal at the Britannia Stadium after handing in a transfer request at Wolves to fulfil his ambition of playing in the Premier League.

WHAT a difference a year makes for Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Matt Jarvis.

Twelve months ago, the 22-year-old had just joined the club from Gillingham and was looking forward to making his mark in Wanderers' Championship promotion campaign and showing the Molineux faithful just what manager Mick McCarthy had been so excited about when he signed him.

However, his dream move soon turned into something of a nightmare as he picked up an injury in pre-season that ruled him out for the first three months of the campaign.

He would be hampered by injuries throughout his first season and was only able to show glimpses of his obvious talent during the final stages of the campaign.

Now Jarvis is fighting fit once again and is enjoying a full pre-season programme in preparation for the coming campaign, which he is relishing.