Wolves’ Boxing Day trip to Arsenal has been put back 24 hours to December 27 because of a Tube strike.

Although a strike could still be averted, the north London club said the game would have to be moved “due to the preparation period needed to safely operate Emirates Stadium by all the relevant agencies”.

Chelsea announced yesterday their London derby with Fulham would go ahead despite the possible disruption.

A High Court judge was expected to decide today whether to halt the strike by drivers embroiled in a pay row.

Arsenal said: “This decision has had to be made now, before the result of the legal challenge to the proposed industrial action is finally known, due to the preparation period needed to safely operate Emirates Stadium.

“The paramount concern was always the duty of care towards the Arsenal supporters, Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters, matchday employees, workers and indeed everyone who was planning to attend the match on Boxing Day.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this may have caused supporters.”

The game will still kick off at 3pm.

Meanwhile midfielder Jamie O’Hara has been ruled out for up to six weeks after surgery on a double hernia.

The grim bulletin comes as another blow to the club’s survival fight.

“Jamie has been complaining of some groin pain for the last couple of months, which we have managed conservatively,” said Steve Kemp, head of Wolves’ medical department.

“We were able to manage it with treatment and he was able to play but it got to a stage where a specialist decided that surgery would be needed. We hope he will be back in training within four to six weeks’ time.”

Nenad Milijas today insisted Wolves must become a 90-minute team to stay up this season. The Serbia playmaker has started the last two games where Wolves took just one point from six against Stoke and Norwich at home.

Milijas believes the team must do the business over the full game.

“If we want to stay up, we must repeat our good performances for 90 minutes,” said Milijas.

“In the last few games it’s been a case of in the first half not so good, in the second half great, or first half great, second half not so good.

“We must produce for 90 minutes.”