Sam Ricketts set for Wolves return

Captain Sam Ricketts is ready to boost Wolves by returning in tonight's clash at Crawley, it emerged today.

The Molineux skipper, who missed Saturday's 0-0 draw against Shrerwsbury, is set for a return to the starting line-up after shaking off a thigh strain.

Ricketts looks certain to replace Ethan Ebanks-Landell at right-back in what is expected to be an otherwise unchanged side from head coach Kenny Jackett.

"He's OK - he trained yesterday and is added to the group and we have no other injury concerns," said Jackett, who admitted the 32-year-old was missed.

"He's certainly brought leadership on the pitch.

"He manages the team on the pitch very well, both in terms of attitude and tactically.

"Perhaps we missed him but I've got confidence in the side that we can also do well.

"Sometimes it's not something particularly visible from the stands.

"But he has a lot of respect within the group, he leads by example and vocally as well.

"He's a good senior professional and I'm very keen my senior professionals lead the right way.

"Tactically he's very aware and can make the right calls and the right changes if needed."

Ricketts has been a big part of a settled back four that has kept 19 clean sheets in the league, four off equalling a club record set by the 1923-24 Third Division (North) title winners.

The current total is three shy of their 1987-88 mark of 22 with late keeper Mark Kendall's 28 in all competitions another club record.

"We've got a good basis," acknowledged Jackett.

"We've got good defenders playing and to come in and quite a good understanding of all of our jobs defensively.

"We're not easy to score against which is the first 50 per cent, then you have to build on it going forwards.

"Giving silly goals away isn't something I want - if you can eradicate that, it gives you a chance.

"The aim always is to win and you'd prefer to win 3-2 than draw 0-0.

"So one can't take away from the other - you can't be talking defensively completely.

"Generally if you highlight the defensive side, it feels like you're playing 'not to lose' than to win, so the mentality is important.

"So an underpinning of zeros and ones against you gives you every chance and eradicating poor goals against you gets you more points."