Wolves striker Andy Keogh believes the influential performances of Karl Henry are one of the main reasons behind the club’s impressive start to their Coca-Cola Championship campaign.Mick McCarthy’s side will look to consolidate their position at the top of the table when they travel to Lancashire to face third-placed Preston at Deepdale tomorrow.

Keogh has hailed Wolverhampton-born Henry, who took the captain’s armband after an injury to Jody Craddock, as the main force behind Wolves’ unbeaten start to the season.

“Karl looks like a new man this season – he’s even better than I thought he was last season,” Keogh said.

“He’s really dictating the games and he’s only going to get better.

“He’s worked hard and had a good pre-season and he’s relishing being the main central midfielder, holding the team together.

“He’s the main difference for me – everyone looks at out attacking players because they’re easy on the eye and very good footballers.

“But people like Karl just sit there, break play up, make simple passes and stop the opposition slotting balls through and doing damage on our goal.”

Preston midfielder Darren Carter has urged the club’s supporters to provide a hostile atmosphere to ensure they maintain their 100 per cent home record.

“The fans can see that we are on a great roll and where we want to be in the table – hopefully the fans will turn up in their thousands and cheers us on,” Carter said.

“It comes at a crunch time, we are both up there but we want to make our home ground a fortress, we want teams to come to Deepdale fearing us.”

McCarthy is definitely without defenders Matt Hill and George Elokobi (both knee) and Craddock (metatarsal) and midfielders Mark Davies (shin splints) and Matt Bailey (ankle).

Preston boss Alan Irvine will check on the fitness of Callum Davidson (knee) and Richard Chaplow (hamstring).

l Second-placed Birmingham will aim to keep the pressure on Wolves when they host Blackpool.