Wolves pair Kevin McDonald and Lee Evans can bounce back, says boss

Wolves midfield pair Kevin McDonald and Lee Evans have been backed to beat their blip – as Evans was called up by Wales.

Double player of the year McDonald and Evans were at fault for the goals in the 2-1 defeat at Ipswich in midweek.

McDonald was caught dallying by Daryl Murphy for the first and Evans hit a misplaced pass to David McGoldrick who teed up in-form Murphy for the second.

But boss Kenny Jackett believes both will put the errors behind them quickly as Wolves travelled to face fellow promotion contenders Derby in the televised lunchtime kick-off today.

"They've been good players this season and both are good enough and strong enough mentally to accept their responsibilities," said the head coach.

"You have to come through that as a footballer – your morale and your attitude can't be brittle, you have to be tough mentally.

"You always have to have the determination to fight back and both of those players have those qualities.

"I'm confident they'll continue to be strong influential players for Wolves."

McDonald was recently named the most prolific passer in the Championship, but has been caught in possession in the last two games after he got away with it against Birmingham.

"When we do get caught, the answer to the equation is not 'don't pass it', the answer is pass it better," Jackett stressed. "It's hard to have 100 per cent pass completion right through a game, particularly if you get on the ball a lot."

Meanwhile, Evans has been named in Chris Coleman's 25-man squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier away to Belgium a week tomorrow.

The uncapped 20-year-old has kept his place despite pulling out of the last squad, when he was called up for the first time, through injury.

Club captain Sam Ricketts also retains his place but there is no spot for Dave Edwards, who is out with medial knee ligament damage.

Ricketts ended his exile from the Wolves squad with a place the bench on Tuesday but Jackett admitted there is no easy way to a recall for the 33-year-old.

"Our back-four performances have been pretty good," he said. "Matt Doherty has pretty much made the right-back slot his own.

"It's just the development of the younger players in the back four that have held Sam off.

"But he's still capable and if and when he gets his chance I'm sure he's got the ability and the character to take it."