Steven Fletcher a doubt for Newcastle

Tuesday 24th August 2010, 11:52AM BST.

Steven Fletcher a doubt for Newcastle

Striker Steven Fletcher remains a doubt for Wolves’ return to Premier League action against Newcastle on Saturday.

The club-record signing is still struggling with the foot injury sustained in the opening-day 2-1 win against Stoke which forced him out of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Everton.

With Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake likely to be rested for tonight’s Carling Cup second-round tie against Southend at Molineux, Fletcher is now fighting a battle to face the Magpies.

Manager Mick McCarthy said: “The biggest worry for me is Fletcher because he went off running on Sunday and he’s still feeling it – it hasn’t settled down. He’s not right yet.

“He wouldn’t have been involved tonight anyway, but we’re just trying to get him right for Saturday.”

Wolves have a wretched record in the League Cup.

They have failed to go beyond the third round since 2003, when they were thrashed 5-1 at Arsenal.

And Southend carved their names into the cup’s folklore three years ago when Freddy Eastwood’s free-kick winner beat Manchester United to secure a quarter-final tie against Tottenham – the furthest the Shrimpers have ever progressed.

With that in mind, McCarthy – a semi-finalist with Barnsley in 1981 – is warning of a tough night.

He said: “Carling Cup ties are notoriously difficult.

“Their manager Paul Sturrock gets the best out of his teams and no doubt coming here he will want to beat a Premier League team.”


  1. 1
    wolfhedd

    I hope Fletch recovers soon. I wouldnt risk him on saturday though, if hes still not 100%. Doyle wasnt at his best against everton, and he will keep improving with more games, so hopefully he has a better performance against Newcastle. As for Southend, we shouldnt have to many problems against them, i think Zubar will play to get match fit.

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    rich5wolves

    I would like to point out that when you ran a story last week saying both players, Doyle and Fletcher would be fit for Everton, I made the point of telling you that you were regurgitating Micks after match speach…….. Now you can see the need for some proper reporting and investigation. I warned you it was not an injury update but Micks after match comments………. 2 weeks on and he still isnt fit!

    On a football note, Newcastle wont find it as easy this weekend as they did last but we have to be wary of a team full of confidence and like ourselves, battling qualities.

    Good luck tonight lads, ill be there cheering you on.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    john paskin is god

    I know we have had a good start, but this is now becoming a joke, all our new signings are out for the Newcastle game, although it is early in the season, this is a must win game.I hope he doesnt pick the team from saturday, we will get over run in the middle, hurry up and get fit boys or it will be a long long winter.

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    Dan

    After the Stoke game, it was suggested that it was a badly bruised foot. I hope he was sent off for x-rays immediately afterwards to be sure.

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    wanderer in eire

    What is he doing RUNNING on SUNDAY!
    Especially as he could not play on SATURDAY!
    FLETCHER what are you doing BOY?
    Dont let your CONFIDENCE get in the way of you not LISTENING!
    We have paid a lot of MONEY for you so my advice is listen to the to the CLUB MEDICS.
    Or are you another one of these GUYS who likes to earn MONEY by being constantly INJURED?

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Albrightondek

    This injury to Fletcher seems worse than anyone first thought. If there’s any doubt about his fitness he should be left out of the Newcastle game on Saturday.

    Time for some of the youngsters to show if they are any good tonight. Apart from Winnall and Batth, I would like to see Scott Malone playing at left back.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Gornal Vuvuzela

    I must admit I’m not bothered about the League Cup. I’m more bothered about getting to 38/40 points in the Premier League as quickly as possible. It’s interesting to note our record in the Premier League over the last 12 games. It reads W 4 D 6 L 2 = 18 points from 12 league games and only 2 defeats is a very respectable record and if repeated over a season would ensure a haul of 57 points !! I’m not saying we will obtain that- but I would be happy with 43/44 points this season as it would mean progress. well, onwards and upwards ! WWFC forever !

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    tom

    brill performance saturday lads the atmosphere was amazing down goodison!

    but about this article this is exactly why we need to bring in another proven goal scorer

    doyle – amazing one of our best players
    fletcher – amazing buy
    keogh- useless and not even worth 50p
    ebanks – good footballer but not at this level he hasnt the strengh the power or the pace distin on saturday was man handling him for a laugh

    we need to get keogh gone and sign another striker!

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    Tomwolf

    I always worry when a player comes off injured, and MM says afterwards its ‘nothing serious’ we took him of as a precaution. Then the player 99 times out of 100 misses the next match. And MM is now saying he’s doubtful for the Newcastle match. I hope this isn’t another case of a new top signing being out with a ‘long term injury’? UTW

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Noisy

    Obviously Prem is the priority (and I’m looking forward to seeing some more of the kids) but surely we have a squad now to take this competition seriously.
    Hennessey
    Zubar, Mouokolo, Batth, Stearman
    Halford, Edwards, Milijas, Bia
    Keogh, Winnall

    all need a game – if this team can’t win we’re not as good as I’m hoping we might be!

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    Cyprus-Toon

    I’d have thought you’d have put your strongest team out to play in the CC as it’s not like you’re going to get anywhere in the PL this season are you???

    Us on the other hand aren’t bothered about cups this season, we’re just looking to stay in the PL & build up from there..

    Good luck this weekend, you’re going to need it if we play the same way as we did against the Villians :)

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    wolvesmod

    If you can’t beat Southend at home, whatever team is put out, then you have problems.

    We are still a striker short. We have Keogh and the kids upfront tonight. Not something i’d like to watch.

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    jason

    lets hope whatever team wolves put out tonight gets the job done.up the wolves.

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    Guedioura_Wolf

    This is a big blow that Fletcher wont be playing against Newcastle.

    But i have confidence in Ebanks-Blake and Doyle together.

    After Saturdays performance i think that Guedioura needs to start against Newcastle.

    WE ARE WOLVES!

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    southbank barmy army

    SO OF THE 18 MILLION WORTH OF NEW SIGNINGS, CURRENTLY NONE OF THEM ARE FIT ENOUGH TO START THE GAME SATURDAY.

    BRILLIANT!!!!!! THERE’S CERTAINLY COMPETITION FOR PLACES ALRIGHT … IN THE TREATMENT ROOM.

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    brummierobwolves

    11) There is not a hope in hell that you will see Wolves bullied and lie down for the opposition. Let’s see what your defence is like facing class players like Doyle and Jarvis!

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    james clarke

    what is wrong with everyone 4 points out of the first to games great seb is scoring don’t rush fletch back winnall to play tonight use the youth players in th Lcup

    Report abuse

  18. 18
    JJ

    With regards to our new signings not being fit is quite obvious why when hearing Doyles post match interviews early last season. He stated that our training process is far more intense and hard wearing than anywhere else he played and he himself struggled to keep up and keep the level of fitness that our established players had.

    On the negative side we do get more injuries outside of games.

    On the positive side we have much higher fitness levels, we develop our trademark never give up attitude and have allowed our once mid level championship players to hold themselves at this higher level.

    I’m sure our new players are just playing catch up and in a few weeks we’ll be back up to full steam.

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    Mark B

    It does not take a lot for the negative comments to start appearing.
    Better they get fit before returning as its a long season and one or two games missing will not see us relegated.

    11) Its been a while since I have watched Newcastle live, as you say survival is the key, and we are still in that area as there are 10 teams that are capable of going down its just the luck on theday when we meet each other.

    Backing the boys through thick and thin

    Report abuse

  20. 20
    Dobbo

    Very unfortunate…methinks this a more serious injury than Mick is letting on ? UPW

    Report abuse

  21. 21
    rich5wolves

    11 – I hope you dont think the whole Premiership will be as easy as Saturday. Come to Molineux and watch Jarvis rip your defence to pieces. May I add, we have 4 points on the board yet still have 5 players of genuine quality to come into the team.

    Kightly, Hunt, Zubar, Moyokolo, Fletcher, Van Damme….. all currently injured. We get results without them. Can Newcastle honestly win games without 5 of there best players?? I doubt it.

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    goldguvnor

    11 Cyprus Toon……..

    One win againt a really poor Aston Villa performance and all of a sudden your world beaters? I admire your confidence mate but we’ll see how your ‘dads army’ midfield does agianst a young and hungry team that runs itself into the ground for the cause every match this saturday. Remember your team is pretty much the same one that got relegated so we’ll see where you are come the end of the season. As for the CC id thought thats summat Newcastle maybe interested in winning as then you may finally have something to put in that oh so bare cabinet at St James Park…..

    Report abuse

  23. 23
    truewolves

    fletcher should not be risked against newcastle,and wolvesmod welcome back yes we should beat southend at home but if we dont, please dont ask everbody to get sacked including the tea lady.

    and caps lock on sbba, 18 million worth of signings have so far put us 6th , and we will stay up comfortably and no amount of moaning will change that.

    utw
    wwfc 2 newcastle 1 doyle,jarvis

    Report abuse

  24. 24
    wanderer in eire

    LOONEY TOON…dont be getting carried away lad/ladette!
    You could have been hammered by MAN U 6/7!
    Then MAN U drew against FULHAM!
    So hang on to your tongue and take the ride back down to the CHAMPIONSHIP!
    Only last season you were doomed according to NEWCASTLE fans!So know you think you CHAMPIONS?
    You are in for a struggle when SMITH/BARTON lose there appetite as they will ,as they wont be allowed to kick lumps out in the prem!

    Report abuse

  25. 25
    brierley hill wolf

    All the best danny batth tonight show mick what you can do

    Report abuse

  26. 26
    Craddockinho

    8. Laughing at SEB? Maybe until he put the ball in the back of their net.

    If I was to predict tonights line-up i think it could look something like this:

    Hennessey

    Zubar Mouyokolo Batth Elokobi

    Halford Guerdioura Milijas Edwards

    Keogh Winnall

    One thing is for sure, Southend would love any of that XI, so with the right motivation we should come away with the victory.

    Not sure where Stearman features? Infront of Mouyokolo if he isn’t quite fit?

    Report abuse

  27. 27
    Eastwood's Rubbish

    11) Cyprus Toon.
    You’re not bothered about Cups this season ? Don’t make us laugh. You haven’t won a domestic cup since the early fifties, longer ago than us and most of the other Premeirship teams (Championship too)! …. that leaves just European jug Bobby Moncur lifted, a success you could never build on, as usual.
    Geordie fans seem to think they have some God given right to be amongst the top teams and they reel off players like Milburn, McDonald Keegan and Shearer, but in reality the last two only joined when they were past it and players like Beardsley, Eastham, Waddle and Gascoigne couldn’t wait to get away to try and win something.
    You might find our defence a little more organised than Villa’s

    Report abuse

  28. 28
    devon wolf.

    let`s just wait till saturday if you magpies dont like disapointment stay home. WOLVES TILL I DIE.

    Report abuse

  29. 29
    club wolves

    lol Cyprus Toon..

    Nothing changes with them lot, have a good win and they are the best team in the World..
    As usuall they will win nothing…

    I’d stick to supporting your legend mad Moat if i was you matey..

    Our defence won’t be like the Villa don’t worry and shame you didn’t beat them last match of the other season as would have stayed up..

    Enogh said…

    Report abuse

  30. 30
    WHO R wba anyway?????????????????

    29. Have a look on the TESCO site. They are saying the same. Must be a disease they get from too much fizzy pop.

    Report abuse



Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football

This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
Saddlers Blog

A week is a long time in football

Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.