Injured Wolves trio to miss two matches
Wolves trio Richard Stearman, Dave Edwards and George Elokobi were this afternoon all ruled out for two games.
Elokobi has a groin injury, Stearman a hamstring strain and Edwards an ankle problem, the latter two resulting from challenges with veteran Preston striker Kevin Davies in Saturday's opening goalless draw at Deepdale.
It means the three will miss tomorrow's Capital One Cup first round tie at Morecambe and Saturday's first home game of the season against Gillingham.
Head coach Kenny Jackett said: "They will miss both this week's games so we hope they will be fit for the Bristol City game a week on Saturday.
"We're hoping it's only a week or two."
Skipper Sam Ricketts today insisted Wolves' squad is strong enough to cope with the opening-day spate of injuries.
"You look at the players who came on – first of all George came on for Stearman, and he's a very good player, then Kevin Foley, and he's an Ireland international, so I don't think it gets much better," said Ricketts, who switched to centre-back alongside Danny Batth when Stearman was forced off in the 32nd minute.
Jake Cassidy replaced Edwards as Wolves switched from a 4-4-1-1 formation to a more orthodox 4-4-2.
Ricketts added: "It's never ideal – it meant a few changes and we had to make three in the end which not only disrupted the rhythm of the side but also tactically, if the gaffer wanted to change it his hands were tied.
"But all the lads who came on did well and were ready. We were away from home and kept a fairly comfortable clean sheet – Carl Ikeme didn't have any real saves to make."
Despite the defence looking thin on the ground for options and experience, it seems highly unlikely Jackett will bring Roger Johnson, Stephen Ward or Georg Margreitter back to the fold.
Johnson and Ward were banished to train with the Under-21s and now all three are training on their own with Jamie O'Hara, Kevin Doyle and Tongo Doumbia.
