Wolves were today eyeing a shock Premier League return for Sam Vokes to ease their striker shortage. The Wales international is currently on loan at Championship high-flyers Norwich for an initial 28 days.

That expires on April 21, the day of the Canaries derby against Ipswich at Portman Road and two days before Wolves’ next game against Fulham, leaving the 21-year-old to play one more game at Carrow Road, at home to Nottingham Forest this Friday.

Vokes appears to have struck form too, having scored his first goal for the Canaries in last night’s 2-2 draw at Watford with the opener after two minutes.

Wolves are struggling for numbers up front with Kevin Doyle out for the season and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake battling to be fit with a hamstring strain.

Steven Fletcher is the club’s only senior striker, with Stephen Ward as makeshift back-up.

“We can take Sam back and there’s every chance I will,” said boss Mick McCarthy.

“He’s got his month to see out and we’ve got a recall on him. But I always have a recall on them after the first month.”

Vokes has scored twice in 12 games this season for Bristol City, Wolves, She-ffield United and Norwich, although only five appearances have been starts.

While keen to add Vokes, McCarthy was also relieved to see a positive update on Ebanks-Blake, who is back training after picking up an injury in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Everton.

Andy Keogh is also back at Compton with an injury but Stephen Hunt could be fit for either the derby at Stoke on April 26 or the clash at Birmingham five days later after coming through his hernia operation last week.

Meanwhile Wolves have put all contract talks at Molineux on hold until the end of the season.

By TIM NASH