Luckless Wolves keeper Matt Murray has backed understudy Carl Ikeme to seize his chance and pull off ‘unbelievable’ saves.
Ikeme is set for a rare start in tomorrow’s opening pre-season friendly at Wrexham, with injury to Murray and last season’s revelation Wayne Hennessey.
Murray is set to miss three to four weeks after having injections to help cure inflammation in his knee.
Hennessey has been withdrawn as a precaution after picking up an ankle knock in training.
Murray has seen enough of his 22-year-old fellow Academy graduate to know he can be a threat to him and Hennessey.
He said: “Now Carl has got in he will show he can pull off saves that you wouldn’t believe.
“His all-round goalkeeping is very good as well and he’s also very level-headed.
“Again it’s just about timing and getting a chance. He’s about 6ft 4, built like an ox, trains really hard and keeps his standards high.
“He went on loan to Stockport, started well and then in the last couple of games it didn’t work out.
“But I feel he would have no problems now at Championship level.”
Ikeme has just three minutes’ League football with Wolves, as a substitute for Murray in a 1-0 win over Luton in August 2006.
He made his senior bow in the Conference on loan at Accrington Stanley in 2005, playing three games, before a nine-match stint at Stockport in 2005.
As Ikeme prepares for his chance, Wrexham’s former Wolves boss Brian Little admits his side have a stiff examination as they prepare for life in the Blue Square Premier.
He said: “It’s going to be a huge test for Wrexham but one we’re looking forward to.
“It will be a big step up for some of my players against internationals.
“We are not going to read too much into it because of the gulf between the clubs. It gives the fans the chance to see a quality side at the Racecourse.”
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