Wolves vs Queens Park Rangers preview - Fletcher battling to be fit

Posted Saturday, September 17, 2011 by PA

Wolves striker Steven Fletcher is a doubt for the Barclays Premier League clash with QPR as he battles to recover from a groin problem.

The Scot picked up the injury in last weekend's 2-0 defeat by Tottenham and it was initially feared he could be sidelined for a spell but boss Mick McCarthy is hopeful he will be available.

Winger Stephen Hunt and defender Kevin Foley have both missed training this week with ankle niggles but McCarthy is confident they, too, will be fit.

Neil Warnock claims McCarthy used to clean his boots - but admits the apprentice has overtaken the master when it comes to Barclays Premier League management.

QPR boss Warnock was a winger at Barnsley in the late 1970s when Wolves counterpart McCarthy came through the ranks as a no-nonsense centre-half.

The pair are now both successful managers, but while Warnock forged his reputation as a promotion specialist in the lower leagues and is enjoying only his second top-flight season, McCarthy is fast becoming a Premier League fixture.

"He used to clean my boots when I was a kid," said Warnock, who will pit his wits against the man 10 years his junior at Molineux on Saturday.

"He denies it but he was an apprentice at Barnsley with me. He was a massive lad in those days. I've never seen anything like it.

"He was like a brick... you can't say that on the television, can you? But he was built very, very big and sturdy in those days.

"They've had to go through a similar situation that we're going through.

"Mick's moved on a level now and bought top players, I think, your (Kevin) Doyles and that.

"We're not anywhere near that level yet but that's where we want to be, where Wolves are, that next step up."

Warnock has no fresh injury concerns after Rangers' new signings all came through Monday night's goalless draw with Newcastle relatively unscathed.

Armand Traore was substituted midway through the second half with cramp, but the former Arsenal full-back is fit and expected to keep his place on the left of the defence.

Kieron Dyer (foot), Jamie Mackie (leg) and Rob Hulse (knee) remain sidelined.