Wolves to win with wider view

Wolves aim to be a pain in the grass to their rivals at home this season as they look at extending the Molineux pitch.

Manager Mick McCarthy has the option of lengthening and widening the playing area, and the new dimensions are expected to be on show for tomorrow's showpiece friendly against Athletic Bilbao.

A year ago, McCarthy shrank the pitch to 110 yards x 70 - the bare minimum under Premier League requirements - as he looked to establish the club in the top flight.

McCarthy ordered 18ft to be taken off the length and 12ft off the width to reduce the open spaces that could be exploited by the better opposition after promotion.

But, having survived the first season, McCarthy is looking at ways he can maximise his stated preference for a 4-4-2 formation and go some way to restoring the original dimensions of 115 x 75 yards.

McCarthy has bought another winger in £3m Stephen Hunt, and with Michael Kightly expected to be fully fit shortly, he wants his wide men to have as much room as possible to wreak their havoc.

The pitch, which has undergone a £1m transformation, has also been moved towards its final position towards the Jack Harris Stand before the planned £40m redevelopment plans starts next May.

The demolition of the 18-year-old Stan Cullis Stand is the first part of the redevelopment, providing the club again retain Premier League status for 2011-12.

Fans at tomorrow's game will also notice a slope on the trackside between the Billy Wright Stand and the Stan Cullis Stand.

This is as a result of the pitch being levelled out, complete with a camber, and raised two and a half feet in one corner.

Meanwhile, right-back Ronald Zubar has undergone a scan on a groin injury that kept him out of Tuesday's 2-0 win over Hearts and is set to miss tomorrow's game.