Solbakken in warning to Jermaine Pennant

Jermaine Pennant was today warned he has to accept he might not be a first choice for Wolves.

The on-loan Stoke winger is still adapting to the Championship and regular football again and Wolves haven't won in the six games since his arrival, of which he has played a part in every one, starting five.

The 29-year-old winger started the delightful move that led to Bakary Sako's opener in Saturday's 3-3 draw against Brighton but found himself replaced by Bjorn Sigurdarson after 57 minutes with the score at 1-1.

And boss Stale Solbakken warned the former Liverpool and Birmingham wideman that he might be sacrificed as the Norwegian tries to find a winning formula.

"He's going in the right direction but he must also be aware some games will be for him and some maybe won't," he said.

"He came here not having played in the Championship for a long time and when he stamped on the ball at Huddersfield a couple of times he found himself kicked up in the air, and that's what can happen if you stay on the ball for one second too long.

"But that's very normal for players who haven't played much in a while.

"He played three games quite quickly and maybe he's struggling with a lack of match rhythm, and it's not easy to come in when there are big expectations.

"But he's had some good moments and I saw some good things from him on the ball in the first half on Saturday."

Solbakken also explained his decision for taking Pennant off on Saturday.

"He did OK," he said. "Players don't want to come off.

"It would have been very worrying if he'd been happy to come off!

"He's bright enough to understand it though.

"But he doesn't cover as much grass as some, and, when you play with four in midfield and are down to 10 men, you have to choose between him and Sako because both of them are better going forwards than backwards.

"I told Bjorn to play on the right and support Doyle when he has the power and I think he did that very well.

"Tactically he struggled with the positioning, but he stole the ball for Tongo's goal and had one or two other attacks as well."