Express & Star

No way back for Group Three duo at Wolves

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Wolves 'group three' members Roger Johnson and Kevin Foley are highly unlikely to rejoin the first-team for training.

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Johnson and Foley are the only fit players left in Steve Hodge's unwanted group after the departures of Stephen Ward, Jamie O'Hara, Kevin Doyle, Tongo Doumbia and Georg Margreitter, who joined League One Chesterfield on a 93-day loan this week.

Razak Boukari is out injured until the new year and Bjorn Sigurdarson is on loan at Molde to November.

Asked about the prospects of Johnson and Foley training with the first team, the head coach said: "You can never say never and with injuries so you never know, but it's doubtful.

"The situation won't change. The possibilities for integration are far easier with less numbers. For instance, Foley needed a game and we played him last Friday at Liverpool.

"But, at present, their training routine is exactly the same. Two as opposed to eight does give you more options to integrate, not that that's going to happen right now."

Jackett is relieved the group is thinning out, adding: "We thought it would slowly dissipate as the season went on and people got fixed up. That's been accurate.

"We wish Georg all the best and I hope it goes well for him. It's actually a good chance because Chesterfield are a club on the up at the moment.

"As for the rest, they are going to carry on exactly where they are."

Both Foley, 29, and Johnson, 31, are into the final year of their contracts. The lack of interest in Foley, in particular, surprises Jackett.

He said: "Right-back is a very strong position for us, but his performances and his experience are very good, so to have Kevin still here, I'm very surprised."

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is again training with group three, after reports of a trial at Oldham.

Jackett said: "He must be local and just asked to train with the group, to keep himself fit while he's looking for a club."