Wolves' injury worry on Richard Stearman

Defender Richard Stearman has emerged as a worry as Wolves look to the next leg of their Championship play-off push.

The 27-year-old centre-back was stretchered off after collapsing to the ground worryingly in the 73rd minute of his 200th League appearance for the club.

But head coach Kenny Jackett believes the former Leicester stopper won't be out long term.

The Wolves boss said: "He is not as bad as first feared. It seems more neural than muscular and perhaps down his back and hamstring.

"Hopefully it will settle down and there will be no big damage. Whether that's before Friday or not we don't know yet."

Last night's 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday saw Jackett's side remain eighth and three points off the top six with eight games left, after Brentford and Ipswich also won.

Brentford defeated Blackburn 3-2 away while Ipswich edged Bolton 1-0 at home.

But Wolves have cut the goal difference to a shortfall of three on the sixth-placed Bees, with Derby – who lost 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough last night – to come to a packed Molineux in a televised game on Friday night.

Goals by Bakary Sako from the penalty spot on 18, Benik Afobe in the 55th minute and substitute James Henry on 67 clinched a third win in four home games for Jackett's side.

Jackett admitted it was a hard call for referee Simon Hooper to make on the clash between Nouha Dicko and Claude Dielna that resulted in the penalty.

"He'd got past him and there was a coming together," said the boss. "With Nouha's pace, change of direction and low centre of gravity it was a difficult one for the referee.

"But the position he was going into, he would rather score than go down, because he's not down to take penalties."

But it was such a stirring, full throttle performance from Jackett's side with chances galore in the first half that they will have whetted the appetite of the fans for the West-East Midlands clash.

Even before last night's convincing win, Wolves were hopeful of a gate of 27,000 to 28,000 for the arrival of the Rams.

Jackett added: "I'm sure Molineux will be full or close to it and these are the games we're in football for."