Wolves leave trio in the cold

Jay Bothroyd and Stephen Elliott’s Wolves careers appear to be over after they were omitted from the squad to tour Scotland.

Boss Mick McCarthy named a 24-man party to fly north of the border tomorrow, and there was no place for transfer-listed trio Bothroyd, Darren Potter and Elliott.

Instead, Bothroyd and Elliott are in the reserve team which goes to non-League Chasetown tonight for a friendly (7.30pm).

Bothroyd is mulling over a move to Leeds but there has been little interest in the other two. Potter is carrying a minor injury.

Leeds have agreed a fee with Wolves for Bothroyd rising to £300,000 – but Wolves still doubt whether the deal will go ahead.

Despite being told he has no part in Wolves’ future, the 26-year-old – who has a year to run on his contract – is still to decide whether to go to Elland Road.

Much of the fee is appearances-related, but Bothroyd looks likely to stay at Molineux, after rejecting an offer to go to an un-named club earlier this summer.

Tonight’s game will be the first taste of action for Bothroyd, after he was omitted from the squads that faced Wrexham and Hereford.

While Bothroyd and Elliott will be training with the reserves at Compton, fellow transfer-listed players Darren Ward and Rob Edwards are in the squad for the Scottish trip.

Ward in particular has impressed McCarthy with his positive attitude.
He said: “He’s still on the list and if someone comes in for him, I’ll sell him. If he’s here, he’ll be involved and take part.

“But I also know what I’ll get out of Darren – real commitment.

“It’s never a case of ‘I’m on the list and I can’t be bothered’ – he’s a fantastic professional and whenever he plays, he does his bit.

“Out of the 19 clean sheets last season, I think he was part of 11 of them. He’ll give his all and he’s a good lad.”

Others to miss the tour are Stephen Gleeson, Lewis Gobern and transfer-listed Seyi Olofinjana, the untried Elliott Bennett and Matt Murray, who is injured.

Bothroyd and Elliott are joined by fellow transfer-listed player Rob Edwards and Gleeson in tonight’s reserve team.

Squad for Scotland: Hennessey, Ikeme, Little, Foley, Elokobi, Harte, Craddock, D Ward, Stearman, R Edwards, N Collins, Henry, D Edwards, David Jones, Davies, Gray, Kightly, Jarvis, Daniel Jones, S Ward, Keogh, Ebanks-Blake, Vokes, Iwelumo.

Reserves to face Chasetown: Woolley, Melbourne, Malone, L Collins, R Edwards, Salmon, E Bennett, Gleeson, Bothroyd, Elliott, Hughes.
Subs: Hemmings, Connor, K Bennett, Dunleavy, Davis, Wardle.