Strike duo miss Wolves push

Wolves continue the next leg of their Premier League promotion push without 40-goal strikeforce Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Chris Iwelumo.

Ebanks-Blake has again been ruled out of the Easter Monday trip to Derby with the hamstring injury that's kept him out of the last two games.

Boss Mick McCarthy had hoped the Championship's 24-goal top scorer would be fit for Derby after missing yesterday's 3-0 win over Southampton.

But the 23-year-old hitman will again be under treatment as hopes for his return turn to next Saturday's home clash with QPR.

Iwelumo is a major doubt for the final four games.

"Sylvan and Chris won't be fit," said McCarthy. "I'll have the same squad I had (yesterday) – there won't be anyone else coming back.

"We'll hope and see if Chris is (fit). There are three weeks left (of the season) and he's got retinacular damage which apparently keeps all the ligaments together.

"He's got medial ligament damage and bone bruising, but he's a million miles better than we thought he would be.

"I live in 'hopeful street' so let's see if he'll be (fit).

"Of course he's an absolute doubt when you see it (the tackle) – it's amazing that he's got any chance."

McCarthy instead backed his 'shadow' strikeforce of Sam Vokes – who broke the deadlock after 39 seconds against the club he supported – and Andy Keogh on a day when Marlon Harewood came off the bench.

"Keogh and Vokes are a good partnership," said the boss.

"They played so well together at Birmingham in the FA Cup and whenever they've played individually, they've played well.

"Whenever he (Vokes) has come in, he's done what's been required and he's a great young fellow.

"He works his socks off but Terry (Connor, assistant boss) is a great coach and has improved him a great deal.

"But he's been kept out by a 40-goal strikeforce. It's not like he could come banging on my door or chipping away at me because Chris and Sylvan have kept him out.

"Sam has done very well in the way he's been asked to play."

The one plus for McCarthy was the return to the line-up of winger Matt Jarvis, who made his first start since February 22.

By TIM NASH