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28-05-2007, 12:00
</p> http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/mattmurray.jpgWolves boss Mick McCarthy today insisted Matt Murray remains his first choice keeper – but believes Wayne Hennessey and Carl Ikeme will push the Player of the Year all the way.
Murray missed the end of the play-off semi-final second leg against Albion after breaking his shoulder in training, but is expected to be fit for pre-season training in July.
His place was taken by 20-year-old Hennessey, who produced an impressive performance at The Hawthorns and is regarded as one of the best keepers to have emerged through the ranks at Molineux.
The 6ft 7ins keeper followed that up with his full international debut for Wales on Saturday, coming on at half-time against New Zealand with the scores at 2-2 and keeping a clean sheet.
McCarthy insists Murray will be his ‘first pick’ when he regains fitness, but believes the former England under-21 international is right to acknowledge the growing competition from the other two.
“I think Matt will want his shoulder to heal very quickly so he can get back into training because there’s a very good young keeper who has come in and been different class,” said McCarthy.
“If Matt comes back fit then he’s the No 1 keeper, but he’ll have great competition from Wayne Hennessey and also from Carl Ikeme when he’s recovered, because he’s a very good keeper as well.
“It will be nice to have three fit keepers in the squad and it will be nice to have 20 fit players coming back in July because that will give us a real good base.”
Of the three, McCarthy believes Ikeme could find it most difficult to get first-team football and reckons his chances might be better served with another spell on loan.
“It’s always good to get keepers out on loan if you can, because even regular reserve team football doesn’t make up for the sort of thing that happened to Wayne at Stockport,” he said.
“It’s the same with outfield players because we also saw how Stephen Gleeson developed at Stockport.
“When it comes to the keepers, it might be worth sending Carl out if the opportunity arises because he’s not had all that much football due to injuries.”
More... (http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/2007/05/28/mick-murrays-my-no1/)
Murray missed the end of the play-off semi-final second leg against Albion after breaking his shoulder in training, but is expected to be fit for pre-season training in July.
His place was taken by 20-year-old Hennessey, who produced an impressive performance at The Hawthorns and is regarded as one of the best keepers to have emerged through the ranks at Molineux.
The 6ft 7ins keeper followed that up with his full international debut for Wales on Saturday, coming on at half-time against New Zealand with the scores at 2-2 and keeping a clean sheet.
McCarthy insists Murray will be his ‘first pick’ when he regains fitness, but believes the former England under-21 international is right to acknowledge the growing competition from the other two.
“I think Matt will want his shoulder to heal very quickly so he can get back into training because there’s a very good young keeper who has come in and been different class,” said McCarthy.
“If Matt comes back fit then he’s the No 1 keeper, but he’ll have great competition from Wayne Hennessey and also from Carl Ikeme when he’s recovered, because he’s a very good keeper as well.
“It will be nice to have three fit keepers in the squad and it will be nice to have 20 fit players coming back in July because that will give us a real good base.”
Of the three, McCarthy believes Ikeme could find it most difficult to get first-team football and reckons his chances might be better served with another spell on loan.
“It’s always good to get keepers out on loan if you can, because even regular reserve team football doesn’t make up for the sort of thing that happened to Wayne at Stockport,” he said.
“It’s the same with outfield players because we also saw how Stephen Gleeson developed at Stockport.
“When it comes to the keepers, it might be worth sending Carl out if the opportunity arises because he’s not had all that much football due to injuries.”
More... (http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/2007/05/28/mick-murrays-my-no1/)
