Shunned defenders ready to fight on
Out-of-favour defenders Jason Shackell and Darren Ward have not given up hope of gate-crashing Wolves' Premier League party.
The up-for-sale duo both got 90 minutes under their belts in the pre-season friendly at Kidderminster on Saturday – in front of watching manager Mick McCarthy.
Another defender set to leave, Neill Collins, also played the full game.
For the three – all centre halves – the path back into the first-team at Molineux looks increasingly bleak.
The resurgent Jody Craddock, Christophe Berra and Richard Stearman were already well ahead in the manager's thoughts.
This summer has seen Roland Zubar arrive and Bobo Blade join on trial, with both going on the pre-season tour of Australia, while the out-of-favour trio were left at home.
But, despite the mounting odds, Ward and Shackell refuse to accept that there is no way back.
Shackell said: "You never say never in football, anything can happen at any time. I just carry on training and hope I can get some more game time under my belt."
Ward added: "Whenever I play for Wolves, at whatever level, I just want to do my best. Never say never."
Ward has not played for the club since the Carling Cup exit at Rotherham last August, while £1m signing Shackell last figured in January's FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough.
But both can boast what many of their rivals cannot – Premier League experience.
Ward played against both Manchester United and Arsenal for Watford in 2000, while former Norwich skipper Shackell also played in the top flight with the Canaries in 2005.
They can also point to Craddock as an example of what can be done.
The veteran stopper – 34 on Saturday – went from the verge of a loan move to Walsall to skippering the title-winning side in less than six months.
Shackell said: "Jody is a great professional and an example to us all. He has done really well."
Both are still exploring the possibility of a move, but Shackell admits that a transfer back to Norwich – where he spent the end of last season on loan – "won't be happening."
Ward, who spent time at Watford and Charlton in 2008/09, added that there are "a few clubs interested."
