Duo get chance to shine
Mick McCarthy will hand Jay Bothroyd and Rob Edwards a chance to stake their claim for a Wolves starting role as his pre-season preparations enter a crucial phase tonight.
The pair are back in a strong 19-man Wolves squad for the friendly at Northampton after missing the weekend win against Cheltenham.
And, with boss McCarthy promising to field his strongest side in Saturday's Molineux clash against Reading, tonight's Sixfields test is the final chance for his fringe players to impress.
Forward Bothroyd needs to make an impact against the League One side after the Stephen Elliott and Andy Keogh partnership showed real promise against the Robins.
McCarthy has sprung a surprise by including transfer-listed Jamie Clapham in the match-day squad after the veteran full-back impressed in two appearances for the Wolves second string last week.
Clapham may be asked to fill in on the left-wing for Stephen Ward, who will sit out the trip as a precaution after suffering a slight knee injury.
The squad will form the basis of the side that McCarthy sends out when Wolves face Watford on August 11 - with McCarthy set to give Michael Gray his first start in gold and black.
The Wolves new boy was impressive against Cheltenham and needs games to hone his match sharpness ahead of the big Championship kick off.
Young midfield man Mark Davies has moved a step closer to a return after undergoing a 'clean up' operation on his knee.
The midfielder has not played a part in any of the pre-season games after suffering discomfort on the knee he injured a year ago.
The minor operation should allow him to rejoin training in a fortnight.
Physio Barry Holmes said: "Mark has been feeling some pain but the small operation he had last week seems to have done the job.
"We are happy with the progress he has made over the past few days and the plan is to increase the amount of work he does with us next week.
"But he is still at least a couple of weeks off returning to full training."