Kenny Jackett: Wolves' fringe men should take their chance

Kenny Jackett has told his fringe Wolves players to seize their chance when Bakary Sako heads off to the African Cup of Nations next week.

The powerful midfielder has been named in the Mali squad which will compete at the tournament being held in Equatorial Guinea from January 17 to February 8.

Sako will play for Wolves against Fulham today before flying out to join up with his international teammates.

But instead of bemoaning his star winger's absence, Jackett is using the opportunity as a motivator for other players to stake a claim in the side.

"This does provide the other players with an opportunity," Jackett said.

"Sako is with us for the Fulham game and then he'll be away, so it will be a chance for somebody else.

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"It's a place that a number of people should really go for with everything that they've got."

With Sako out of contract in the summer the boss us unsure whether the tournament helps or hinders the club in their efforts to keep him.

"There's always speculation about Sako and he's a good player," Jackett said.

"I hope we keep him. I want us to keep him.

"Does him going away does it give him more profile or is it harder to get hold of him? It could work either way. I think, in the end, if somebody wants him they want him and it will work out.

"For me personally and everybody at the club, we would want to keep him.

"In terms of his contract, his options are open until the end of the season.

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"I wouldn't say that we're out of the running, but we'll both remain open minded as the season goes on."

Meanwhile, the boss was full of praise for young defenders Kortney Hause and Dominic Iorfa who have stepped into the side to help shore up the back-line.

"They have come into the team and it has resulted in an upturn," Jackett said.

"Defensively we have conceded two goals in four games.

"And the two before that were against Bournemouth when we were reduced to 10 men.

"It is rare to bring in two young players at the same time but I have got confidence in them both as players.

"Their presence, their pace, has really helped.

"In the last 18 months there have been a lot of debuts.

"That has to continue because there is a lot of effort and emphasis put on the youth policy here.

"When you see players at that level who have come through either the youth level or the Under-21 system, it is very encouraging."