Express & Star

Internationals are a bad break for Kenny Jackett

Published
Last updated

Kenny Jackett has bemoaned the timing of the international break, with his team in their best form of the season.

more

Back-to-back 3-0 victories over Fulham and Huddersfield have launched Wolves up the table to within a win of the play-offs.

And Jackett, who hailed the importance of Kevin McDonald and Danny Batth in his team's mini-revival, said it was a shame Wolves had to wait 15 days in between fixtures.

Jackett feels Wolves are finally showing their true colours.

"It's strange the way the international calendar is set up, early in the season we suddenly have a 15-day break," he said.

"It would have been nice to have a consistent run of games and kept the side together, but we have to try to hit the ground running when we go out at Derby a week on Sunday.

"We're showing our true colours now. Quite a number of people have put their names on a shirt.

"Partnerships have settled down. Inside the camp we're all optimistic.

[comments_cta header="What do you think?" text= "Can Wolves achieve promotion this season?" button="Log in and start commenting"]

"From McDonald's goal onwards at Preston, looking back now that was a big goal for us.

"It just shows how close we've been. The consistency of the same goalkeeper and back four has helped us too.

"Having Batth and McDonald back and in form has made a big difference. That spine is now developing and Danny contributes to that massively."

Wolves are now 10 league games into their league season and, reflecting on his team's start, Jackett said no team had yet outclassed Wolves.

He is now looking to keep confidence high in the next batch of matches.

"We had quite a few mistakes early on which quite clouded it and results have a big impact on the confidence of the players and the crowd, two massive things, and they can swing," Jackett said looking at his team's season so far.

"There were some goalkeeping mistakes from both keepers, some very good football at times, against QPR for example, but there was a number of those (mistakes) that took a little bit of confidence away.

Kenny Jackett shakes hands with Huddersfield boss Chris Powell before kick off.

"We should get confidence from seven points out of nine, in no way complacency, and if you're looking at the table and the sides that have an opportunity, we're one of them.

"No team has really outclassed us. The strongest was Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup although in the first half we did well against them without having enough punch up front."

McDonald has been forced to withdraw from the Scotland squad with a back injury, denying him a debut cap.

Jackett said it was too early to say if he would be fit for the Derby clash.

"We'll have to see how he develops this week," Jackett said. "We have enough time, but he won't train this week."

"It's unfortunate for him. But if he keeps putting on top class performances I think it'll work for him.

"They have these two last qualifiers to go and then start on a new campaign so it'll be interesting for Kevin.

"His way in is to keep playing well for Wolves, certainly his last two games have been very good and I'm sure he can get that international call-up at the right time."