Mick McCarthy has issued an upbeat bulletin on the fitness of injured Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray.
McCarthy delighted for injured goalkeeper
Mick McCarthy has issued an upbeat bulletin on the fitness of Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray.
Murray has been plagued by injuries for the past couple of seasons, with a torn patella tendon in his knee keeping him sidelined since last November.
He is not likely to return to action for some time but has begun working with the team again and McCarthy is encouraged by how well the recovery is going.
"Matt is doing his level best to get back," McCarthy told the
Birmingham Mail.
"I don't think he's anywhere near a game yet, but he's joining in with training.
"We're taking shots at him and he's taking crosses and shots, so he's making real progress."
McCarthy admits he is delighted for Murray and feels the return of such a popular player will boost the whole squad.
"It's great for Matt, first and foremost," he said.
"It doesn't matter how much running and weights you do, you want to get back playing football, which for him is catching crosses and diving, getting at people's feet and blocking things.
"It's great for him. It gives everyone a lift when people start coming back from injury, especially those of good quality."
Loan move unlikely
McCarthy does not plan to loan out Murray once he is fully fit as he would prefer the keeper to be around the squad and fighting for a place.
"I haven't really considered what to do or given it a great deal of thought yet," he said.
"But if he was fit to be playing and be around the squad, I'd have him to play in the reserves.
"I would probably treat him with kid gloves first and foremost, play him in two or three games and allow Carl Ikeme to go out on loan.
"I would use Matt in training here and get him some reserve team football because if we had four keepers, I'd let Carl go out on loan and get some football. He'd be the first one out."
