Wolves boss waits on his international stars

Cautious Kenny Jackett today declared Friday is D-Day for his Wolves stars to play at Blackpool as he warned his standby players to be ready.

Mali pair Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko aren't due back from tonight's African Nations Cup qualifier away to Algeria until late tomorrow or the early hours of Friday morning.

Lee Evans, who was in action for Wales Under-21s last night away to Lithuania, is due back in training tomorrow.

All three have been ever present in Jackett's side so far this season, with an unchanged line-up named for all five Championship games.

A decision on captain Sam Ricketts, who was sent back from Wales duty last week with a hip injury, will also be taken as late as possible.

After a fortnight without a game, Wolves' trip to the seaside is the first of three games in eight days, with Charlton away on Tuesday night and Bolton at home the following Saturday.

Head coach Jackett said: "Sako and Dicko will be available for the Blackpool game, but I don't need to make a decision until Friday morning when we've seen how people are from watching them.

"If something happens tonight or there's tiredness then we need look at other people.

"Even if I play them on Saturday, Tuesday night at Charlton will come very quickly.

"So the other guys have to be ready to make sure that when they do come in, they're of a similar standard to those going out.

"It's my job to make sure these guys know exactly what's needed.

"We play Saturday, Tuesday and Saturday and then we have an eight-day gap before Reading away.

"It's three games in eight days but it's early in the season and they will probably be alright.

"But you have to make sure players know exactly what's needed if you have to make that change."

Dicko wasn't involved in Mali's first qualifier last weekend and Jackett thinks the striker will be fine to face his former loan club.

"I think he'll be fine and knowing those lads, they'll all want to play," he said.

"Generally people want to play when they come back and that'd good."

As for Ricketts, Jackett added: "It's looking like we'll know tomorrow or Friday so we'll assess it then, but we're optimistic at the moment."