Wolves' African Nations Cup hope on Doumbia
Wolves midfielder Tongo Doumbia has reported for the African Cup of Nations – but the club are hoping to have him back here before a ball is kicked.
The club has also recalled Leigh Griffiths from his loan at Hibernian, so new manager Dean Saunders can assess the striker.
But they have allowed Frank Nouble to complete a switch to Mick McCarthy's Ipswich for a nominal fee on an 18-month contract.
Doumbia has flown out to join the Mali squad after being selected for the tournament in South Africa, which starts on January 19.
But the 23-year-old is still carrying the hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last three games for his club.
And Wolves are hoping a recall for the £3million signing from Rennes is a formality once Mali's medical staff assess Doumbia's hamstring injury, without losing him to the tournament.
That would mean he could return to Wolves and continue his treatment, so he can be available for the Championship as soon as possible.
Chief executive Jez Moxey said: "Tongo has flown out to join Mali, but he's injured and we're hoping he will be back with us as soon as possible so we can get him fit to play."
Mali have been drawn in Group B and play Nigeria on the 20th, Ghana four days later and Congo on the 28th.
Should they progress, the quarter-finals are on February 2, with the semis and final on February 6 and 10 respectively, meaning the midfielder could have missed up to five league games if fit.
Meanwhile, Griffiths is on his way back to Molineux while Hibernian are in their two-week winter break.
The 22-year-old striker has one match left before his loan expires, at home to his former club Dundee on January 19.
It remains to be seen how long he will be back at his parent club, with Hibs and the player keen for him to remain at Easter Road, where he has scored 14 goals in 21 Scottish Premier League games this season.
Wolves are likely to allow the new Scotland cap to go back out on loan if Saunders doesn't opt to keep him here, and Hibs can't afford to buy.
But Wolves are keen to keep his transfer value and so will invoke the one-year option on his contract, which was due to expire this summer.
Meanwhile, centre-back Ethan Ebanks-Landell has returned from his loan at League One side Bury.
