Zubar set to miss season's opener

And midfielder Dave Edwards has now withdrew from the Wales squad due to play Montenegro on Wednesday with a groin injury.

Centre-back Zubar, a £2.5million summer signing from Marseille, remained on the bench throughout Saturday's final friendly against Real Valladolid as the team lost 2-0.

With Christophe Berra away with Scotland, boss Mick McCarthy stuck with Jody Craddock and Richard Stearman for 90 minutes.

Wolves go into Saturday's Premier League curtain-raiser against West Ham already without Michael Kightly and Chris Iwelumo, while Kevin Doyle isn't match-fit after his hernia operation.

McCarthy revealed French-speaking Zubar, who has little command of English, will be another absentee as he's struggling to talk with his team-mates.

The manager said: "I think Ronald has found it difficult in terms of communication and understanding and I understand that, because I went to play in France not speaking the language.

"To be able to communicate with your team-mates makes defending a lot easier. He's found that a little bit difficult, but he'll be fine.

"He started behind the rest when he came to Australia, and his fitness wasn't as good as the rest.

"We need to get him so more minutes, and he'll have to get them in friendlies or whatever just to get him to play."

That would appear to rule out Zubar, with Berra, Stearman and Craddock now set to compete for the two slots for Saturday's big kick-off.

The club still cling to the hope of signing Michael Mancienne on a season-long loan, after he failed to make Chelsea's squad for the Community Shield clash with Manchester United.

McCarthy said: "I thought I'd leave the two lads I picked to see how they did. Stearman was fantastic for us last season and Jody's been as he always is. I thought they were pretty good."

Stephen Ward would also appear to be slightly ahead of George Elokobi at the moment for the left-back spot.

He said: "I thought Stephen Ward was terrific."