If Wolves weren’t already aware of how tricky the game against Newcastle could be then last week’s 6-0 slaughter of Villa confirmed it.

Mick McCarthy’s side go into the game on the back of an unbeaten start to the season and two solid performances in the Premier League.

But defender Jody Craddock believes the eye-catching scoreline at St James’ Park has sharpened his team-mates’ resolve for tomorrow’s game.

He said: “It was good for us that that result came last week, because it shows what they’re about and we realise what a tough game it’s going to be.

“I would think after their result last week they will have the confidence to think they can turn us over. So we really need to be ‘on blob.’

“Not that we’d have taken our foot off the gas, but if they’d have lost 2-0 or 3-0, we might have thought differently about them.

“Having beaten Villa 6-0, we’re thinking there’s no room for error. It’s going to be one tough game and we know we’re going to have to battle for the points.

“But it’s up to us to continue our run and do what we’ve been doing to others, to them.”

As one of the promoted teams, Newcastle have momentum, so much so that Craddock disregards any notion that Wolves could be favoured by the bookies to repeat their opening-day victory over Stoke.

He said: “I don’t think we can be regarded as favourites.

“If you look at the way they got promoted last season, the players they’ve got, and the way they finished off Villa last week, they will be very dangerous.”

Chief dangerman of the Toon is Andy Carroll, who bagged a hat-trick against Villa, someone Craddock knows he will share the responsibility of subduing with Christophe Berra.

But the 35-year-old quickly tamed Kenwyne Jones in the last home game against Stoke, when his innocuous challenge ended the £8million hitman’s participation after barely 10 minutes.

Although he wouldn’t wish the same on Carroll, Craddock knows he can’t afford to take any prisoners.

He said: “Andy is going to be coming here on fire and I’m going to have to use all of my experience and do the best job I can to try to stop him.

“I know he’s good in the air and he’s a big, strong lad, but we have to keep their strikers quiet.

“There aren’t many of that target man type around and he’s only young too so he’s more mobile than most.

“But it’s how we contain their threat that counts – we aren’t going to win all of our headers, so it’s a case of how we deal with their second balls, how myself and Christophe cover each other.”

Matt Murray’s retirement provides a backdrop to the fixture, after yesterday’s sad announcement brought the end of the all-too-brief career of one of Wolves’ finest ever goalkeepers.

At 29, a goalkeeping giant who the best judges in the game tipped for England honours, was forced to call it a day having played for barely two full seasons.

Murray’s team-mates admitted it was his decision to call time prematurely on his career that made them most aware of how lucky they are.

Kevin Doyle is one of those who never got the chance to play with Murray.

Doyle turns 27 next month – the same age Murray was when he suffered the ruptured patella tendon that dealt the final crushing blow on his career.

He said: “It just shows that you just have to make the most of everything and don’t take anything for granted because, as good as he could have been, he had to retire at 29.

“It’s very sad for him, but the fact he’s been able to stay so positive is something any injured player here now should look to emulate.

“Every day he was here, he worked until 4pm, and he always had a smile on his face for everyone.”

By Tim Nash