Wolves defender George Elokobi has been backed to regain his Premier League place after being dumped in the reserves following his axing at the weekend.
The 23-year-old paid the price for a difficult few weeks when Richard Stearman came in for his first Wolves start at left-back in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat against Arsenal.
Now the powerhouse begins his route back to senior contention in the second string by taking his place in a strong reserves line-up against Birmingham tonight at AFC Telford (7pm).
Elokobi appears alongside comeback goalkeeper Matt Murray, Kevin Foley, Andrew Surman, Greg Halford and Matt Jarvis.
Team-mate Dave Edwards believes Cameroon-born Elokobi can bounce back to first team contention.
The midfielder said: “Of course George can come back. Anyone who knows him knows what a bubbly character he is,. He started last season in brilliant form only to get unlucky with his injury. He’s done very well and was unfortunate to be out of the squad against Arsenal.
“But he’ll bounce back because he’s mentally very strong and he’ll carry on.”
Luckless Murray plays his first game of any sort for almost a year in his recovery from a ruptured patella tendon on loan at Hereford.
Wolves reserves: Murray, Foley, Malone, Ebanks Landell, Elokobi, Surman, Halford, Bennett, Hemmings, Spray, Jarvis, Rooney, East, Price, Metcalf, Parsonage.
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28 Comments
Matty Murray? Yes please! I’d take him on one leg over Hennessey.
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I cannot believe that this article waffles on about Elokobi, who quite frankly deserves to be in the reserves, and gives a tiny mention to Matt Murray who plays his 1st game after a year out.
Which one is the REAL news?!
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anyone getting up any hope of murray being fit for more than a couple of games needs to have a bit of a reality check I’m afraid. His record doesn’t exactly inspire confidence! I think hennessey is doing a superb job anyway, far better than i thought he would do in the prem. We forget just how young he is for a goalkeeper. he’s not the finished article by any stretch, especially on crosses but give him a few years and he could well be one of the premierships best.
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Hennessey has cost us at least 3 goals and 3 or 4 points because he is scared of crosses, Hope Matt can get fit and rescue us.
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Good luck Matt!
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I hope Murray does make it back. Watching Hennessey at the weekend was scary. No closing down, flapping at crosses, probably at fault for most of the goals. We need a good keeper or everything else will be worthless.
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Why are we not playing Kightly in this reserve game, he is totally out of form, pleased to see Sylvan included, and why not include the ‘Hoff’?
I would play Doyle in this game to help him relate to the different type of players styles he encounters, at the moment he is playing as an individial.
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Hennessey needs to be dropped ASAP.
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Hennessey has been far better than last season but was at fault for two of the goals on Saturday. Let’s pray for Matt Murray, as this is his last chance and both Wolves and England need class like he is!
We need some good performances tonight from the likes of Foley, Surman etc. in order to put them back into contention.
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Best English goalkeeper Matt Murray! But he’s along way off first team. No pressure please!
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Hennessey is a good keeper and he’s got great potential.
However, I think he’s no where near as good as a fully fit matt murray.
Hennessey doesn’t command his box and was at fault for 2 goals on Sat. For someone who’s 6′7″ I can’t believe he doesn’t come for crosses.
I know he’s young but it frustrates me that we’re allowing him time to develop in the first team, in the premiership – his mistakes have cost us goals and at the end of the day we need to stay up. He’s just as accountable as other players who make mistakes. I hope Murray gets fit in time for the New Year.
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Love Matt Murray to bits and I truely hope he gets back to form – one of the best goalies I ever saw in a Wolves shirt (in over 40 years of going to games) BUT the future IS Wayne Hennessey. He’s got everything we need but goalkeepers take time to develop. He’s good and has the potential to get much much better.
Same applies to Elokobi to a lesser extent – he’s still learning his trade but he’s strong, quick and has a bigfuture.
Patience required X2
UTW!
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7. doyle cant possibly be playing in a reserve game when hes on international duty with ireland for the world cup play off!!!
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George should never leave the reserves unless he leaves the club.
He’s not good enough and never will be.
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Time for changes at the back. Zubar and Craddock in the middle with Foley and Mancienne or Stearman at left back. At chelsea 5 in midfield, Edwards, Henry, Castillo, Milijas, Kites, the Hoff up top on his own.
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Matt Murray back would be the better than any new signing. Hennessey HAS to come and get crosses and get off his line quicker too lightweight for my liking.
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good luck tonight Matt
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7. Sylvan’s not playing tonight but Ebanks Lendell a youth team player is!
Personally I think Wayne’s doing ok this season, there are other positions which need addressing more urgently ie a creative midfielder
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I see the Hennessey knockers are back .No 4 ROY ; He may have made some mistakes but he didn’t head the ball into his own net for the first that was Zubar or fail to mark Arshavin for the fourth that was Milijas.What about the saves he made against Wigan and that save against Stoke from Beattie. He has helped win us points.Next season Hennessey will still be in the Prem ,if we go down someone else will snap him up.
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We need to target Joe Ledley in the January window to sort the midfield and we need to address the left back position. Then we can move forward.
??????? :-)
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lets get fergerson in now,he wont cost anything and he can always phone his dad if in trouble.
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quick question- why does Andrew Surman not get a chance in the first team. Is he not up to it?
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i hope murray comes back quickley.
is anyone going to the chelsea wolves game im sitting in the chelsea fans
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A fit Murray,would certainly command his box,
which Wayne fails to do most of the time. In these
difficult times we need all the experience we can
get,and Wayne will have to learn from it. George
i am sorry but you will at best only be a reserve
team player in the Championship.
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Laughing Wolf, dig the serious and sound nature of your observations.
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No. 3 Carl wolves. You may well be right about Hennessey being a good premiership goalkeeper in a few years, but if he carries on as he is now, the club will not be in the premier league and neither will he
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25. Cheers. One loss against the form team in europe is not the end of the world, not having a sponsor, poor attendances and having our fans attacking our captain is, oh no wait…Thats the Albion!
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I agree with Micks comments about George Elokobi.
The guy worked like a trojan to get back to fitness after a long spell out. He gives his all, has a great attitude and is learning all the time. I think Mick and his staff have worked wonders with him since he arrived from Colchester.
A good performance at centre back for our reserves against Birmingham. Maybe George could do a job in this position at some stage in the future
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