Match preview - Wolves v Ipswich

McCarthy returns to Molineux for the third time since leaving the club – but Wolves fans will be more bothered about the return of James Henry, writes Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers.

The winger – surely a strong contender for player of the season – is expected to make his comeback after six weeks out.

And the phenomenon of players actually returning from injury rather than being sidelined for weeks on end is one that could define (in the absence of any actual excitement challenging for the top six) the final eight matches of the season.

Mike Williamson (aged 32) and David Edwards (30) are a week or two away, meaning the average age of the first XI could be about to rocket, starting with 26-year-old Henry.

As for the game itself, for Wolves it's about broaching an attribute they haven't dared achieve all season – consistency.

At Molineux they've won seven points in their last nine, while home and away it's only one defeat in five.

With 22nd-placed MK Dons away to follow on Tuesday and then 14th-placed Blackburn visiting Wolverhampton next weekend, Wolves have a chance to, and bear with me here, put a consistent run of results together.

We shall see.

But those of a Wolves persuasion will be certainly be hoping that McCarthy is bemoaning; "we were bobbins" at the end of this one.

As well as Henry's return, which is likely to be from the bench, Wolves have Carl Ikeme available despite the goalkeeper being sent home early from international duty with a stomach bug.

Jed Wallace's absence with a thigh injury means either Nathan Byrne or possibly Henry will come in on the right flank.

Jackett's other dilemma is up front where Michal Zyro, Bjorn Sigurdarson, Joe Mason and Adam Le Fondre are competing for the striker slot.

Ipswich joint-top scorer Daryl Murphy misses out after picking up a knock while with Ireland last week.

David McGoldrick and Teddy Bishop are closing in on comebacks from long-term injuries, having been out since December and last summer respectively.

LIKELY LINE UPS

Wolves (4-3-3): Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth, Hause, Doherty; Coady, Price, Saville; Byrne, Zyro, Helan. Subs: Martinez, Deslandes, McDonald, Henry, Mason, Sigurdarson, Le Fondre.

Ipswich (4-4-2): Bialkowski; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen; Feeney, Douglas, Skuse, Maitland-Niles; Sears, Pitman. Subs: Crowe, Foley, Digby, Hyam, Bru, Pringle, McGoldrick.

Brett Pitman: With Murphy out injured the goalscoring mantle falls on 28-year-old Pitman, who has scored 10 in all competitions since joining from Bournemouth last summer and impressed in the reverse fixture at Portman Road.

FORM GUIDE

At home Wolves have beaten Derby and Bristol City and drawn with Blues in their last three fixtures.

A 1-1 draw at Burnley last time out was one of their best performances of the season and Jackett has called for Wolves to pick up where they left off.

They've had a nice habit of scoring late goals in recent weeks, netting in the 85th minute or later four times in five games, earning five extra points in the process.

As for Ipswich, they slipped to a disastrous 1-0 defeat at home to Rotherham two weeks ago.

Three wins from nine have seen them drop out of the play-off places to eighth.

MATCH ODDS

Wolves are 7/5 to win with many bookies, while Ipswich are 19/10 and the draw 12/5.

The weekly 'which ex-player will score this time' alert is Christophe Berra.

The Scot failed to find the net in 154 games in a Wolves shirt. Since moving to Portman Road he's netted no fewer than 12 times in roughly the same number of appearances.

Berra is 40/1 to net first tomorrow, while another former Wolves man, Kevin Foley, is 25/1.

Foley spent seven and a half years at Molineux and such was the high regard he was held in, he won player of the year in the 2008/09 promotion season ahead of the likes of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Michael Kightly, despite playing at right back.

Foley has played five games for the Tractor Boys since joining on a free in January.

Conor Coady's long wait to break his Wolves duck continues. The midfielder has doing extra shooting practice after training and if you fancy him to score the only goal tomorrow you can get £75 on a £1 bet.

With Wolves' recent penchant for late goals, an 8/1 price for Ipswich to be winning at half time and Wolves at full time isn't a bad shout.

April 18, 2015 (Championship), Wolves 1 Ipswich 1. A crunch promotion clash that Wolves simply had to win. A Richard Stearman own goal put Ipswich ahead, Benik Afobe equalised after half time, but Wolves couldn't find the winner and, two games later would be pipped to sixth place by the Tractor Boys on goal difference.

December 29, 2012 (Championship), Wolves 0 Ipswich 2. McCarthy's hotly anticipated first return to Molineux put a few thousand extra on the gate (at 28,595, no fewer than 4,000 bigger than any other attendance that season) but this was a big damp squib, with Aaron Cresswell and DJ Campbell on the scoresheet for Ipswich. Stale Solbakken was sacked a week later.

March 10, 2009 (Championship), Wolves 0 Ipswich 0. A dour stalemate as promotion nerves perhaps began to get to McCarthy's Wolves, who went closest when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake hit the bar.

April 19, 2008 (Championship), Wolves 1 Ipswich 1. As they would four years later, Ipswich dealt Wolves' play-off hopes a huge blow. Tommy Miller's injury-time free kick cancelled out Ebanks-Blake's opener. This time Wolves had three games left to put it right, but, surprise surprise, finished seventh on goal difference.

August 8, 2006 (Championship), Wolves 1 Ipswich 0. The first win of McCarthy's Wolves reign. It came despite Wolves being down to 10 men for 54 minutes after Carl Cort was sent off for catching Gavin Williams with a stray hand. Jay Bothroyd had earlier scored what would prove to be the winner.

Kenny Jackett: "The home record has been good.

"We don't want any hangover from the two weeks. We want to pick up where we left off and not take two or three games to pick up the performance level.

"And then we can attack this last run of games in a positive manner.

"There's no-one here that wants the season to peter out – in terms of results and performances we want to give our supporters optimism for the future."

Mick McCarthy: "I think I'll get a pretty good reception at Wolves when I go back on Saturday because I usually do.

"I remember going there and playing against Benik Afobe and Nouha Dicko at the end of last season and they were a real threat. Bakary Sako as well.

"To lose those players, it makes your team worse.

"I feel for Kenny a bit. He's having a tough time but they are still a capable team."

THE REF

Rob Lewis (Shrewsbury): Last at Molineux for the 3-2 win over Fulham in January. Normally blows his whistle in League One or League Two. Shown 70 yellow cards and three red in 22 games this season.

PREDICTION

The international break was unfortunate timing for Jackett's team. Henry's return is a boost but Ipswich's need for points is greater. Hard to look past a 1-1 stalemate.