Express & Star

Jamie O'Hara off the transfer list as Wolves boss Kenny Jackett looks ahead

Kenny Jackett today took Jamie O'Hara off the transfer list and backed the £5m midfielder to help shape Wolves' season.

Published

The Molineux head coach also claimed he was under no financial pressure to end O'Hara's exile.

Jackett wants fans to trust him over the prickly issue of O'Hara's return to Wolves' first team after ending the 27-year-old's absence from the squad on Saturday when he was recalled to the bench for the 2-1 win at Bradford. The former Tottenham playmaker, who earns around £20,000-a-week, is now under consideration to be involved at Molineux when Wolves face Stevenage on Saturday.

Asked if there was a risk on his part in bringing O'Hara back, Jackett said: "I have to make decisions every day and every week.

"You can't get all of those right but decisions have to be made. And if he can be an asset to us, and is capable of shaping our season and helping us to win promotion, it will have been a good decision. My job is to be successful and win games and if it helps us do that, fine."

Jackett said there hasn't been any pressure from the board to re-introduce O'Hara. Asked if the player was off the transfer list, he answered: "Yes," before adding: "It was totally a footballing decision – I've had no pressure from above me to select him on Saturday or to bring him back into the training group.

"It's a bit of everything. Firstly, we've got a build-up of injuries and secondly, it's been four months and he hasn't got his move.

"I feel enough time has passed and I want to see how he responds and whether he can earn a place."

Jackett admits the ball is firmly in O'Hara's court now.

"I wanted to be positive and bring him back into the group. Now we'll see whether he can earn a place after putting in some very useful Under-21s performances," he said. "When I had a problem with Jack Price on Friday morning, it was the right decision for the good of the team."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.