Injured Wolves duo could join tour

Wednesday 30th June 2010, 11:00AM BST.

Injured Wolves duo could join tour

Wolves’ recovering duo Michael Kightly and Stephen Ward could be fit enough to join the squad for the pre-season trip to Ireland.

Kightly and Ward are around two weeks behind the rest of the players in terms of taking part in full pre-season training.

But manager Mick McCarthy is hopeful that two of the best bargain buys of his four-year tenure could be far enough down the road of their rehabilitation for the four-day tour to Dublin leaving on Wednesday July 14.

Kightly, who cost £25,000 from Grays in January 2007, is gradually stepping up his workload in his recovery from chronic inflammation of his patella tendons.

Ward, a £100,000 recruit in the same month from Bohemians – Wolves’ opponents which close the tour on Saturday, July 17 – is confident he will soon be fully fit after a clean-up operation on his troublesome cartilage which cost him his first full Ireland cap last month.

McCarthy said: “I’ve kept touch with the injured lads – Michael Kightly, Matt Murray and Stephen Ward. And they’re all coming along.”

Regarding Kightly and Ward, he said: “We may take them to Ireland – we haven’t decided yet.

“Our development coach Steve Weaver is going to Ireland with his group, so we might take the recovering lads as well.

“It might be a nice break for all of us to get away from the training ground for three or four days.

“It just gives you a bit of a livener.”

Kightly and Ward are benefitting from the club’s Alter-G machine, which allows players to work out without them having to carry their body weight.

McCarthy said: “We’ll have to be careful with Kightly and Ward, who won’t be starting immediately.

“They’ll be a couple of weeks behind at least but on the Alter G, they can still do the running and fitness work without the pounding after the injures they’ve had, which is good.”

The manager also gave an optimistic bulletin on goalkeeper Murray.

He said: “With Matt it will take as long as it takes. But he’s happy with how things are at the moment which is good.”

Wolves’ only other casualty, Stephen Hunt, has now thrown away his crutches and is wearing a protective boot.


  1. 1
    Blake's Heaven

    Great News lads!
    don’t rush things and lets get you back challenging for a first team place

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    wolfhedd

    spot on 1. Slow and steady, make sure the injuries are gone, and hopefully we wont see any reocurance of the injuries. I think Kightly and Murray in particular will know exactly what they need to do, and will take as much time as needed to get back, as theyve both struggled with reocuring injuries before.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Tomo

    What a boost for the club if Matt Murray could regain full fitness.

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    brummierobwolves

    We have the squad now to allow the walking wounded time to recover. Ward is likely to be a very useful sub to have on the bench – as he can play left back, left midfield and centre forward. Kites and Murray are equivalent to 2 major signings!
    It looks like Hennessey will be on his way if Liverpool offer the right price – about £4m. Ikeme is as good in any case!

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    WurzelWolf

    I would love to have Matt Murray back like everyone else…but c’mon, lets face it how long has he been trying? Don’t think its going to happen…hope it does, but don’t think it will

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Chrissygreen

    I think Mick’s realised what a top class keeper Murray is and is willing to give him aslong as he needs to get fit, he’s hardly going to be on an enormous wage anyway.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    london wolf

    I think it would be a real error if Hennessey went left to go anywhere
    Murray’s fitness is a question and Hennessey is still a very talented you goalkeeper!

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    Sir Lupi

    6, I would imagine the loyalty Wolves have shown Murray will not be forgotten by him & his family. He will be determined to prove himself once fit.

    Get fit soon Matt, we cor wait to see you in between the sticks again!!

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    wanderer in eire

    KITES certainly a wonderful bargain buy….
    WARDS I am not sure to me he needs to move on…
    MURRAY I hope recovers and retires he is a no-go. Pity as he could have been one of the best at WOLVES.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    brummierobwolves

    7) Hennessey is a weak link. He does not govern his area and does not shout at the defenders. I feel he will be sold and as I said Ikeme is good enough cover and we have good young keepers as cover!

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  11. 11
    wolfhedd

    brummierobwolves – Hennessey is still a baby in goalkeeping terms. Hes not the full article yet, and still has many years ahead to improve. David James just went to the world cup at the age of 40, and didnt play too badly, so based on that, Wayne has still got another 17 years in him. Im pretty confident that, given time, and games, he will mature into a fine goalkeeper for years to come. Matt Murray is still young in goalkeeping terms.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    brummierobwolves

    11) If you look at the newspaper reports there is every chance that he will be sold. The other players that we will look at getting money for are Keogh and the Hoff. Matt Hill just needs to be moved in.
    We are only allowed 25 over 21′s and we are above that already!

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  13. 13
    JACK the HAT.

    Mick,
    Why Ireland,visiting mum are we. Squad should have
    fortnight in Pensnet. As for the injured big three
    they need a big needle that’ll make them run. Jth.

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    wwfc_james

    Wolves vs Stoke

    Usa

    Foley
    Craddock
    Berra
    Van Damme

    Gudiera
    Henry
    Jones
    Jarvis

    Doyle
    Fletcher

    Subs:
    Ikeme
    Moyokolo
    Zubar
    Milijas
    Edwards
    SEB
    Vokes

    *after they have recovered from injuries i would swap kightly for jones and put gudiera in the centre, Hunt on the left and have jarvis on the bench instead of edwards,and Murray for Ikeme

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    Crete Wolf

    Yes all the best to all three and I hope that all three will get back to their best in the very near future.

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    John Benton

    Just get fit, lads. Don’t worry about the new signings, quality will out. Your places in the Squad are assured.

    In Mick We Trust. UP THE WOLVES!!!

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    tipton wolves

    still see some fans moaning shut up and get behind the team things are lookin bright and we are making good signings . roll on next season and get 6 points off sandwell town cumon the boys lets be a established premiership team

    hahneman

    zubar
    muyokolo/craddock
    berra
    van damme

    kightyly
    jones
    gudiera/henry
    hunt/jarvis

    doyle
    fletcher/ebanks blake

    Report abuse

  18. 18
    Eastwood's Rubbish

    13) Jack the Hat.
    Wow, you really have a gift for humour. Bet you have your mates rolling in the aisles when you walk in the room.
    Thanks. Look forward to your next bit of cutting satire. (Ever thought of gag writing for Keith Harris and Orville ?)

    Meanwhile back at the camp where they really mean Premiership business. We all hope Kightly can make an impact this season and Murray ? is it hoping too much this time ?
    Ward and Hunt no problem they’ll be there or there abouts come the Stoke game…if required !

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    Stoke on Trent Wolf

    Be great if Matt Murray could regain fitness and Kites of course but Ward, are we really that bothered? Nothing personal on the lad but he’s definitely not Prem. class. Still think we need a hustle and harry midfielder with a touch of class, O’Hara fits the bill perfectly should make one last push for him.

    Report abuse

  20. 20
    Grace

    13

    Albion Dog

    You should be more concerned about your lack of players & staying up rather than our tour & players!!!!

    Report abuse

  21. 21
    laughingwolf

    13. You will be back on your regular tour of the Championship in a year. Try and finish above Blackpool and that would of improved your wooden spoon finish of just over a year ago! Hopes are high with 90% of that squad still intact with Mattock, Tamas, Cox and a bloke who played for Spain 4 years ago AYE, BONG BONG, RELEGATION.

    Back to a real Premiership club. I think Matt Murray is worth the wait, we all know when fit he is the best English Goalkeeper by a country mile. Kites has to make a full recovery and once he has he will make a big impact at this level. We have a better squad than at least 6 clubs in the division and that is why we will have another good season.

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    JACK the HAT.

    (18)
    Sure do RUBBISH, they wouldn’t have a night out
    without me. Yea ROLF inquired. I can see your back
    to business again, living in hope.
    (20)
    Tut-Tut Grease,
    I’m a throstle, Wolves are the dog-heads like you are one. Oh and Mick should bring some Shamrock
    back with him, Sure will need it when you play us.
    (21)
    Murray is worth the wait! what for the 281 bus you
    park in front of goal even at home. The only
    impact he’ll make is when he (Kightly) hits the deck with no-one around him like he did at the Hawthornes.
    Best squad! Yea BIG four plus two?. Right.

    All the best in your dreams.JtH.

    Report abuse



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