Wolves’ frustration at losing Kevin Doyle for four to eight weeks was today compounded by suggestions from Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni that the striker wasn’t fully fit before his injury.

Scans yesterday revealed the £6.5m forward has torn his medial ligament in his left knee, as Trapattoni spoke again to the Irish press.

“One of the doubts I had coming into the match having watched Doyle in matches and in training was he was a little tired and not on top of his game,” said the Italian.

“Players who play all the time in England run the risk of getting to June and being ‘empty’.”

Those comments are bound to pour salt into the wounds for Wolves as they come to terms with the loss of their nine-goal top scorer.

And they seem as strange as they are ill-timed given that Doyle has shown some of his best form recently, scoring twice against Tottenham and excelling in the win against Manchester United.

In addition, Wolves won’t receive a penny of compensation from the Football Association of Ireland, while the club do not routinely insure players.

“We get ‘diddly-squat’,” said chief executive Jez Moxey. “Unlike with England and Scotland, the Republic of Ireland doesn’t offer compensation or insurance for players that get injured.

“FIFA guidelines do not require them to do so.”

Moxey insisted they bore no hard feelings over Doyle’s injury however.

“We’re philosophical about it — there are internationals and they have to play,” he said.