Wolves today took to the Molineux pitch as manager Mick McCarthy revealed the club’s hopes to get the Boxing Day clash against Wigan on.

McCarthy arranged a full scale behind-closed-doors practice game at the ground today after the icy conditions sealed off the Compton training pitches.

He said: “We can get the game on this Sunday – we can clear the pitch and the surrounding areas. The pitch is covered in snow – they leave it on because it forms insulation against the frost.

“Although the temperature drops, it’s alright underneath because we’ve got the undersoil heating on.

“So that’s fine, we can clear the snow and the heating will keep it soft. We’re going to try to get the pitch cleared so we can get a game on at Molineux today.

“We’ve got 20 to 25 players, so we can get a game between ourselves.”

But McCarthy is concerned at his players’ preparation after being left without a game for two weeks.

He said: “I would love it to be on if everything’s right, but I don’t want us not to be able to prepare properly, and we haven’t.

“We can’t train at Compton and the players have to be mentally and physically prepared to play because if you’re not, doubts will appear in their minds. I’ve been trying to get players back from injury.

“And when they’re slipping and sliding, there’s the risk of them getting another injury.”

Training has so far been restricted to a weights session on Monday.

McCarthy said: “We went out on Monday morning and there was four inches of snow and we probably cleared a 30 x 20 yard area.

“As soon as you clear it, it starts to freeze. We had the tractor but the tyres just squash the ground and screw it up because that then freezes.

“So we had a really good gym session.”

McCarthy has ruled out training in the Aldersley Dome because of the injury risk.

He said: “I don’t like training indoors on the artificial pitch – we’ve had that many injuries, the last thing I need is any more.

“The players were off yesterday because we couldn’t do anything.

“We couldn’t have another session in the gym, because they’d have all been as stiff as boards.”