Wolves' record signing Doyle op

Record signing Kevin Doyle is in danger of missing Wolves' Premier League return next month after having a hernia operation, writes MARTIN SWAIN.

The £6.5m arrival from Reading was yesterday flown out to Munich for the surgery by a hernia specialist and is expected to be ruled out for at least two weeks.

But with Doyle, 25, already behind on his pre-season preparations because of the injury, the August 15 curtain-raiser against West Ham is likely to come too soon for him.

The news presents manager Mick McCarthy with another injury disappointment he could have done without following the loss of Doyle's fellow striker Chris Iwelumo with a broken bone in his foot.

The Wolves boss was happy to look on the bright side of the setback for Doyle, however, relieved that the problem had been dealt with before it had got any worse.

"He came in and started to feel it in the first few days' training," he said. "I'm glad it's a hernia and not a strained stomach muscle.

"We know what it is, he's been and had it done and will be out on the training ground in two weeks.

"He'll get his rehab and while he'll be behind everyone else he's a fit guy who puts a good shift in. He'd been doing alright before the injury.

"We've got great physio and fitness staff in Steve Kemp and Tony Daley and their teams so that doesn't worry me. We just need to get him right which he will be in a couple of weeks."

McCarthy is refusing to rule out Doyle's chances of making the first game even though he will now miss so much of the pre-season schedule.