Carl Ikeme would have been key to Nuno, says Wolves great Phil Parkes

Ikeme retired in July, aged 32, on the advice of medical experts after a year-long battle with acute leukaemia – now in remission.

Parkes, who played a huge part in Wolves’ run to the UEFA Cup final in 1972, got to chat with Ikeme last Friday as fan-written book The Pack is Back was launched at Molineux.

He says there is no doubt that the academy product – the same applying to Ikeme’s mentor Matt Murray who had to call it a day earlier than planned due to a succession of injuries – had the tools to excel in the top flight.

“This club has been so unlucky with goalkeepers,” said Parkes.

“We lost Matt through injury. In my opinion, he would’ve gone on to play for England. We’ve lost Carl as well through no fault of his own. Carl could have played in the Premier League, in my opinion, without a doubt. This club has lost two top, top keepers and it’s a crying shame, really.

“To be honest, I think if Carl’s career hadn’t have been cut short, (Rui) Patricio wouldn’t have been here – we didn’t really need him.”

Euro 2016 winner Patricio was brought in by Nuno Espirito Santo – another ex-glovesman – in the summer after he terminated his own contract at Portuguese club Sporting. Wolves are now thought to be close to agreeing an £18million compensation fee with Sporting for him. Parkes has been very impressed by his displays between the sticks – but expected to be.

“He’s done great, but with his reputation – the games he’s played for Portugal, the World Cup and everything – I would expect that anyway,” he said.

Parkes has sympathy for stand-in shot-stopper John Ruddy.

Ruddy has played just twice this term – both in the League Cup which Wolves are now out of – after making 45 league appearances last term as they stormed the Championship. “The worst position must be the back-up goalkeeper,” said Parkes.

“With no reserve team games, you might not play for five or six weeks.

“Then, all of a sudden, someone’s injured and you’re called on to play – it can’t be easy. John had a great season. I was surprised they went out and got Patricio, but they know what they’re doing don’t they? The club is only going one way.”

Parkes believes the current crop can compete towards the top end of the table just as the side he was a part of did in the early 70s. He would be surprised if they won the League Cup in the next couple of years, like back in ‘74, though.

“Not the League Cup because when we played, the same team played in the cups,” added Parkes.

“Nowadays they change it around and it makes it very difficult to do that.

“They have to do that though with the squads they’ve got, people have to play.”