Wolves wait on Steven Fletcher injury

Wolves were today sweating on an injury to Steven Fletcher which could leave them without a fit senior striker for Sunday's noon derby at Birmingham.

The £7million club-record signing limped off after 69 minutes of last night's 3-0 defeat at Stoke, after jarring his left knee chasing a ball by the touchline.

Fletcher's latest woe adds to the absence of main strikers Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Stephen Ward ended up playing as a striker last night after starting the game at left-back.

Doyle has targeted being fit for the last two games of the season as he recovers from his medial ligament tear, while the club's medical staff are monitoring Ebanks-Blake, who has a hamstring injury.

Sam Vokes is the only other fit senior pro, but has only just returned from a loan spell at Norwich.

The early signs look healthy on Fletcher with no damage suspected, but the club are facing an anxious wait to see how knee settles down in the next few days.

Manager Mick McCarthy said: "Steven Fletcher jarred his knee. Having had to come off he's injured and we will see how it is today."

Fletcher was helped out up front by Stephen Ward, who played the first half-hour at left-back before switching up front.

McCarthy said: "Doyle's injured, Sylvan's injured, Fletcher had to come off, so good old 'Wardy' went up front and did it manfully and is maybe not appreciated as much as he should be for it."