Kevin Doyle's season could be over

Wolves striker Kevin Doyle has virtually written himself off for the season – as fellow forward Sylvan Ebanks-Blake joined the list of casualties.

Doyle was ruled out for between four and eight weeks with the medial ligament strain in his left knee sustained on international duty on March 26 and believes he will be out for another month.

He said: "There's no change – it's going to be another good few weeks. I'm probably looking at six weeks, at least from when I did it.

"It's not going to be four weeks, that's pretty certain. I'm aiming to come back before the end of the season but it's going to be close. It's still sore.

"My knee is in a brace most of the time and it will be another week or two before I can start jogging."

Ebanks-Blake went off at half-time with a hamstring strain in Saturday's 3-0 defeat against Everton, but is expected to be fit for the Fulham game in 12 days' time.

Manager Mick McCarthy said: "We don't know the extent of it yet but we're hoping he'll be OK for Fulham.

"We'll have to see what sort of a strain or tear it is as to how long it will be, but he's got a chance for Fulham."

Wolves' only other fit striker, Steven Fletcher, suffered a slight calf injury but is also set to be fit for the Fulham game.

McCarthy said: "Fletcher had a kick on the calf and had an ice pack on afterwards.

"I took him off more as a precaution because he was our one specialist striker having lost Doyle and Sylvan.

"Stephen Ward is more than capable of playing there but after that we start looking at the kids. I need Fletcher fit."

McCarthy conceded Wolves will have to take out their frustrations on the training ground as they kick their heels for 12 days before hosting Fulham.

And the Wolves boss admitted there is no chance of getting any injured players back for the visit of the Cottagers.

He said: "Doyle hasn't got any chance of being back by then, I can't see Stephen Hunt being fit and Ronald Zubar and David Edwards are out. Fletcher will be OK though.

"The break will drive us mad but we will just have to prepare and train properly as we would if we had a game."