Wolves boss Kenny Jackett hints at goalkeeper exit
Head coach Kenny Jackett today predicted one of his goalkeepers will leave Wolves.
Carl Ikeme got the nod ahead of fit-again Wayne Hennessey to start the final friendly against Real Betis on Saturday, when traditionally the team bears a close resemblance to the line-up for the first game of the season.
Hennessey played the last 16 minutes of the 3-2 defeat in his first appearance at Molineux since April 2012 as goals from Leigh Griffiths and Richard Stearman failed to stave off defeat. But the selection of Ikeme – playing at the ground for the first time since breaking his hand punching the tactics board during the interval of the Bristol City game – to start ahead of Hennessey and Aaron McCarey suggests he is in pole position for the big kick-off at Preston on Saturday.
Jackett confessed: "It's still pre-season but if you project that long-term and ask 'are all three keepers going to be around?' They're probably not.
"Wayne's been out for 16 months so he's going to need some time and games.
"I've been impressed with all three goalkeepers and there are good choices here. "I've got it in my mind what I'm going to do and we'll see over the next few days."
Hennessey was being watched by Manchester City before he ruptured his cruciate ligament.
Asked if he expected the interest of Premier League clubs to be resurrected, Jackett said: "He's a top-class keeper and I'd want Wolves to benefit, but he's been out for a long time."
Meanwhile, Georg Margreitter, who was signed a year ago from Austria Vienna for £500,000, failed to appear in the 19-man squad at the weekend.
The 24-year-old is behind Stearman, Danny Batth, George Elokobi and Ethan Ebanks-Landell in the pecking order of centre-halves.
"I had a look at him early in the pre-season games but Batth and Stearman have come through and played them all," said Jackett.
"Georg has to keep working away and earn a place in a competitive back four. I'm looking at Matt Doherty, Ebanks-Landell and Jamie Reckord, plus Sam Ricketts, Kevin Foley and Elokobi, so there's some competition and Georg is in there."
