andy keogh

Wolves trio Kevin Doyle, Matt Jarvis and Stephen Ward are in line for recalls after missing the FA Cup defeat against Crystal Palace. Doyle, Jarvis and Ward were all ruled out of Wolves FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace with respective leg injuries but they are all available to face Birmingham. Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was rested against Palace but is in line for a recall against the Blues.  

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has taken a pre-derby swipe at his critics who have rounded on his team selections before tomorrow's clash at Birmingham City. McCarthy has come under fire after the midweek FA Cup defeat at Crystal Palace for his team that included five career centre backs, with two – Ronald Zubar and Richard Stearman – at full back and right back Kevin Foley in midfield. The latest wave of criticism heaped on the manager comes after fans jumped on his back for the lack of permanent ...

If you form a committee to design a horse, you get a camel   -Mick McCarthy

 

Wolves defender Jody Craddock has insisted the players are good enough to keep the club in the Premier League despite the lack of signings. Tuesday's humbling FA Cup exit to Crystal Palace and the failure to make any permanent additions in the January transfer window has heaped criticism on manager Mick McCarthy and the board. But the team remain out of the relegation zone on goal difference going into the last 15 games and the club's most experienced player believes the current squad are more than capable of keeping the team in the Premier League.

We’ve got a big squad and there are a lot of good quality footballers here. I feel we’ve got enough here to beat teams at this level. I understand the manager wanted to strengthen, but equally he didn’t want to panic buy and add people who were only as good as the ones already here.   -Jody Craddock

 

Lee Bowyer scored the winner at Molineux earlier this season and Birmingham face the return leg with only one defeat in 14 Premier League games. Former Aston Villa midfielder Craig Gardner could be involved, but manager Alex McLeish has named the same side for the last 10 outings. Teemu Tainio is a long-term absentee.  

Wolves' knockout talisman Sam Vokes hopes to follow David Jones and use the FA Cup as the launchpad to win a place in Mick McCarthy's Premier League team. Jones has made light of his long exile from senior duty by cutting an impressive figure with Man of the Match performances in the first fourth round tie against Palace and in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Hull. The KC Stadium clash marked Jones's belated first Premier League start for Wolves, and Vokes is hoping to follow suit by emulating the midfield ...  

Mick McCarthy was fortunate to avoid an exit from the fourth round at Molineux and the Wolves manager believes the task will be even harder in their second meeting because of Crystal Palace's recent struggles. McCarthy is warning Wolves to beware the wounded animal that is Neil Warnock 's Palace as they heads into the replay at Selhurst Park , with a home game against Aston Villa as the prize for the winners. Fearing a backlash after Palace's recent slide into administration and the sale of ...

Being the underdog and having everything conspire against you just makes you fight harder.   -Mick McCarthy

 

Hull City's Jimmy Bullard is close to a first-team return, but the club has confirmed he will not play on Saturday. Amr Zaki faces a late fitness test on a hamstring strain, while Dean Marney, Geovanni, Kamel Ghilas and Kamil Zayatte are all doubtful. Wolves may decide to hand a first start to new signing Geoffrey Mujangi Bia if he shrugs off a tight hamstring.  

Wolves have not scored a goal in four Premier League games. Hull will hope that Amr Zaki, signed on loan, will have recovered from a hamstring injury in time to make his debut for the club. Wolves could involve new signings Geoffrey Mujangi Bia and Adlene Guedioura, who were both on the bench for the 0-0 draw with Liverpool in midweek.  

Fernando Torres has scored more goals in his injury-hit campaign than the complete complement of Wolves strikers have managed all season. And Scotland international Chris Iwelumo knows that Mick McCarthy 's lowest scorers in the Premier League have to alter that alarming statistic soon if they are going to stand any chance of retaining their top flight status. Torres, recovering from a cartilage operation, has 12 goals to his credit, while Sylvain Ebanks-Blake , Andy Keogh , Kevin Doyle and Iwelumo have mustered just eight between them.