Paul Lambert shopping on quality street at Wolves

Wolves signed 13 players in the summer and their squad, when every player is fit, numbers 29, even without James Henry and Ethan Ebanks-Landell who are out on loan.

Lambert has already stated he wants to downsize the squad. He held an initial recruitment meeting with sporting director Kevin Thelwell last week – and will now spend time to run the rule over his new players before deciding who stays and who goes.

"We had a brief chat, looking at the squad," Lambert told the Express & Star.

"I haven't really seen them play so it's a difficult thing to do. Obviously there's training, but the games are the proof as to who can do what and who can't.

"I've said before, the squad is far too big. We'll have to look at that and trim it down. I'll try and work with a set number that I think I can work with.

"I'll assess it over the next few weeks. But it's not just trial and error – you've got to win games as well. The good ones will get on board and the ones that struggle...that's the nature of the game, it's unforgiving.

"I'll always try and be fair with everybody and do it the right way."

Money is available for key signings in January but Wolves are looking for a more 'settled' transfer window, in Thelwell's words.

Will it be quality rather than quantity, going forward? "I've always thought that," Lambert added. "I don't think you can keep flooding any football club with people that are not going to play.

"When you have too many it can be a problem – and when you have too few it can be a problem.

"You know January's coming, you know the squad is full when everybody is fit.

"And if we can get one or two in to help the lads, that's what we'll do."

n Former Wolves captain Sam Ricketts has announced his retirement from the game.

Ricketts lifted the League One trophy in 2014. The 35-year-old has been suffering with a knee injury.