Wolves v Cardiff. Early team news

Last updated : 22 February 2009 By Michael Morris
He'll be City third keeper in three games after Peter Enckelman and Tom Heaton have both been ruled out injured for several weeks each.

Konstantopoulos signed on loan last week to cover Enckelman's departure but immediately finds himself the No. 1 (only) choice.

Dave Jones looks to have Gabor Gyepes available after the Hungarian missed the trip to Arsenal last week. Gyepes is set to replace Darren Purse in defence and rejoin Roger Johnson, the pair have been at the heart of City's 11 match unbeaten League run.

It's in the offensive areas that Jones has options. Burke, Rae, Ledley, Parry, Bothroyd and McCormack are the regular midfield/attack but new signings Quincy and Michael Chopra are both available today and Peter Whittingham is fit again.

The only outfield player ruled out is Steve McPhail. He's injured.

There are no clues from Jones if he is going to include his new signings but I'd be surprised if at least one of the Quincy / Chopra pairing doesn't start.

Wolves are expected to go into Sunday's encounter with no fresh injury concerns.

Midfielder David Jones has recovered from a slight groin problem while on-loan winger Kyel Reid has also overcome a hamstring injury to be in the frame for selection.

Manager Mick McCarthy's only players in the treatment room as the club enter a crucial part of the season remain long-term absentees Carl Ikeme (back), Matt Murray and George Elokobi (both knee).

The Wolves boss, who took his squad to La Manga this week for training camp in the sun, faces some selection posers as he looks to reverse a run of just one win from their last nine league games.

High of his agenda must be deciding who will partner leading goalscorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in attack, with Chris Iwelumo, Sam Vokes and Andy Keogh all getting a chance to prove their worth of late.

McCarthy expects his team to be the underdogs because of their recent results.

"In terms of form, we're now the underdogs for this one and I prefer that." he said.

"Teams have been playing at the top of their form, even above themselves, against us, and we've not been responding.

"We've only won one in nine league games. Some of the performances have been good in games we should have won, and those points would have made one hell of a difference. Some have been poor.

"The lack of confidence is affecting everybody around the club and the only way we can affect it is by playing well and winning.

"No, I'll qualify that. Just winning. That's what we need to do. And we've got an opportunity to do that on Sunday."