Vokes looking to follow Jones' lead

Wolves' knockout talisman Sam Vokes hopes to follow David Jones and use the FA Cup as the launchpad to win a place in Mick McCarthy's Premier League team.

Jones has made light of his long exile from senior duty by cutting an impressive figure with Man of the Match performances in the first fourth round tie against Palace and in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Hull.

The KC Stadium clash marked Jones's belated first Premier League start for Wolves, and Vokes is hoping to follow suit by emulating the midfield playmaker and pressing for his full bow in the top flight, in the replay against the Eagles at Selhurst Park tonight.

The striker said: "Dave performed brilliantly against Hull at the weekend and it just shows the quality of the squad that someone can come in after not playing much and play as well as that.

"That's what I'm looking to do as well. I played 90 minutes against Palace which was good and I've been involved in the squad since. The gaffer hasn't named the team yet, so I'm not sure whether I'm in the team but I'd like to get another 90 minutes.

"It's always going to be a challenge to get into the team because there are a lot of good strikers here – we've got six now.

"But since I've been back from my loan at Leeds, I've felt good and sharp in training and I'm just looking for that first start in the Premier League now."

Vokes has 'previous' in using the world's oldest knockout competition and tonight's opponents to enhance his claims.

The 20-year-old Wales international scored in the third and fourth rounds against Birmingham and Middlesbrough respectively last season and made his first Championship start for Wolves against tonight's opponents.

He said: "It would be nice to repeat that again tonight. In my first start for Wolves against Palace earlier last season, we won 2-1 and Sylvan scored after 19 seconds, so a repeat of that would be very nice.

"It's important to stay in cup competitions, because we want to have a run in the FA Cup this year. On a personal note too, hopefully it will give me a chance to play in some games.

"That's what I'm here to do, so hopefully I can force my way in."

Despite the competition that includes fellow target men Chris Iwelumo and Stefan Maierhofer, as well as Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and the injured Andy Keogh, Vokes wants to compete for a place at Wolves after being rejuvenated by his loan spell at Leeds.

He said: "I'm happy to stay here – it's great to be at Wolves at the moment and being involved in the squad every week. The gaffer has been great with me since I've come back – I've had some good feedback and hopefully that can continue.

"It's just a question of competing with the other strikers for those two places up front. It was fantastic to get 10 games under my belt at Leeds – I haven't probably had that run of matches since I was at Bournemouth.

"I came back feeling fit, fresh and raring to go."

Vokes feels his help can end Wolves' recent struggles in front of goal that saw them go 448 minutes without scoring before Anthony Gardner's own goal at Hull on Saturday – and feels the strikers must take responsibility for ending the drought.

He said: "It's a great incentive for to me to go out and score goals, because that's what you want to do as a striker. I know all the guys here are trying hard to score and it's an issue we need to address, because it's down to us as strikers to perform and get goals."

Winger Geoffrey Mujangi Bia makes his full Wolves debut against Palace and Vokes feels the on-loan Charleroi wide man and team-mate Adlene Guedioura – who is ineligible tonight after signing too late to be considered for the first tie – will prove themselves as Premier League players.

He said: "The new boys look good – it's helped that they know each other. They've come on as subs in games and shown in training that they've got what it takes.

"I think we've got a squad capable of staying up."

A home derby against Carling Cup finalists Villa is the carrot for tonight's Selhurst Park winners but Palace have sold star player Victor Moses to Wigan for £2.5million since the teams' first meeting to solve crippling debts.

But Vokes acknowledges tonight's replay will be anything but easy as the Eagles have nothing to lose.

He said: "In times like this, fans always get behind their clubs and they might say they need the money more than us. But although they're going through hard times, that's nothing to do with us and we can't allow it to affect us.

"For us it's a game we're looking to win. We have to go there in the right frame of mind and hopefully get a result."

If that is achieved Vokes will allow himself to look forward to facing Villa more. But for now, the striker admits it is an incentive.

He said: "Playing Villa would be another big tie we'd look forward to, as it's another Premier League side and a local derby. I'd love the chance to play in a big game like that.

"James Collins is there too who I know from the Wales squads. He's doing very well and they've shown this season that they're a strong team so, if we win tonight, it will be a good battle."