Carl Ikeme backed to win 'keeper battle at Wolves
Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett today backed Carl Ikeme to resist the challenge of Wayne Hennessey in the short term as Molineux's battle of the keepers is set to intensify.
Hennessey will return to Wolves after Saturday's friendly for Wales against Finland in Cardiff following his loan at Yeovil. He isn't eligible for the FA Cup first-round replay against Oldham as he wasn't available for the original tie.
Ikeme has been in outstanding form for Jackett's side all season and made numerous crucial saves to keep Wolves riding high in League One, keeping eight clean sheets.
Jackett is delighted to have two Premier League-standard goalkeepers at his disposal but believes Ikeme has earned the right to keep his place at the moment.
"Wayne won't be here until next week so he's available for our FA Cup match on the Tuesday," said Jackett.
"Now with him coming back, I don't think he'll immediately dislodge Carl because Carl has been excellent – and he won't expect to. But in terms of our goalkeeping department, it's a strong one, so it's good for the club."
Hennessey hasn't played in Wolves' first team since the 0-0 draw at Sunderland in the Premier League in April 2012 after suffering a twice-ruptured cruciate ligament.
But Jackett insists the 26-year-old shot-stopper, who played 13 games for Championship side Yeovil, has improved with each match he has played.
"The fact Wayne has been out on loan and played games is a positive because he'd been out for a long time and he's been able to play consistently in a really good league," said Jackett.
"He's played game in, game out and we've watched him and he's continued to improve.
"Yeovil were very impressed with him and pleased with him so there are nothing but positives for him in the last two months."
"Wolves have definitely had good goalkeepers for a few years.
"If other positions were as strong as that one, we'd definitely be in for a good season."
In a thinly-veiled criticism of the 93-day loan system, Yeovil boss Gary Johnson indicated he would have preferred to have kept Hennessey.
"We were sorry to lose Wayne, because he really has been a quality goalkeeper," said Johnson.
"Everybody has gained from it. It's one of those rules where you're thinking 'poor Wayne - if he goes back to Wolves he's probably not going to play'.
"These loans are for 93 days, and some of those rules stop people playing - whereas somebody wants him to play, and they can't have them."
