Wolves' squad depth a 'luxury' says Kevin McDonald

Head coach Jackett surprised everyone by making four changes for Saturday's 2-0 win at Sheffield United.

Captain Sam Ricketts, Jack Price, Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko made way for Matt Doherty, Lee Evans, Dave Edwards and Leon Clarke as Jackett freshened things up after using just 12 different players from the start in the preceding seven games.

In-form McDonald was one of the survivors of the 2-1 defeat at Crawley last Tuesday.

But he admitted fatigue was a factor in that surprise setback that prompted the changes made by Jackett.

"We've had a lot of games in March and everyone has tired legs," said the playmaker.

"The manager chose to drop four players and that was his choice – I can't really comment on that, but there were a few tired legs on Tuesday night and I think it showed in our performance."

But the midfielder believes the sight of players such as Sako and Dicko on the bench is a mark of the strength in depth Wolves possess.

And, with the advantage of rest, the hope is they return to their devastating form that shaped the club record nine-match winning run.

"No other team has the luxury of being able to bring a player on of Sako's quality in the last five minutes," he said.

"We had other players such as Dicko who didn't even get on.

"It's a luxury to have and we're delighted to have that just now.

"To have them on the bench and for them to come on, it's very welcome.

"They're great options – if we're struggling or we're losing, it's so nice to have and it was ideal near the end on Saturday when we brought a couple of them on."

Saturday's win at Bramall Lane was a welcome return to the sort of controlled performance Wolves fans have come to expect in since early January.

And McDonald is hoping they can build another winning run to seal automatic promotion.

"Hopefully we're back on track now – that's the plan," he said.

"We went to Sheffield and came away with three points so hopefully that's the start of another run. I think we'd all like to go on another winning run but we've got some tough games so it's going to be hard, not easy at all.

"But if we can do that again what we did before, then we won't be far away come the end of the season."

Tonight's opponents Colchester stand in their way and if last Molineux opposition Shrewsbury are anything to go by, will have a plan to stop Jackett's side.

But Wolves will be highly fancied to make it successive wins after producing one of their most complete performances in the 3-0 victory at the Weston Homes Community Stadium in October, and with the Us having won just two out of their last 11 outings.

"We did well there earlier in the season, but like Shrewsbury did when they came here in our last home game and sneaked a point, they will have a plan," warned McDonald.

"So it's going to be hard but we know we can play our football and we'll get chances, and if we can take those, we'll be alright."