Ireland international striker Kevin Doyle has set his sights on playing for Ireland in their three internationals at the end of the season.
Doyle has basically ruled himself out of the remainder of Wolves' battle for Barclays Premier League survival after suffering a knee ligament injury when Ireland beat Macedonia in Dublin last month. He is however hoping to return for 'The Boys In Green' in late May, even though he admits his club boss Mick McCarthy may not be too happy.
Doyle told Sky Sports: "If I don't play for Wolves again this season, I don't suppose the manager will be too happy to see me get fit and disappear for my country. But I'm going to try to make it."
Ireland face Nigel Worthington's team and Scotland in the Carling Nations Cup on May 24 and 29 respectively and then tackle Macedonia away a few days later in a Euro 2012 qualifier on June 4.
Wolves insist Stephen Hunt will return as good as before after dismissing fears of his injury.
The 28-year-old Ireland international completed his £3m move to Molineux yesterday on a three-year contract, despite being in rehabilitation for a damaged foot sustained against Wolves at the end of January.
Both the club and Hunt, who attended his press conference on crutches, steered away from setting comeback dates apart from confirming he will miss the first few games of the season.
Wolves’ concerns at Hunt’s injury – he had to have a ligament re-attached to his foot – and the subsequent price were believed to have been factors in the delay in getting the deal done.
But chief executive Jez Moxey and the club are satisfied Hunt will make a full recovery.
He said: “I accept that it’s unusual for players to be bought when they’re injured. But we’ve tracked Stephen for a very long time. He’s doing well in terms of his rehabilitation.
“Hull have been very open in providing us with his medical records and the surgeons who performed the operation are very satisfied with the rehab and progress he’s making.
“There are no complications. It’s just a question of time and Stephen will play when he’s ready.
“He started work with us yesterday and has been working out in the anti-gravity treadmill.”
Hunt initially played on for three weeks with painkilling injections, after initial x-rays revealed no damage and he didn’t see a foot specialist at the time.
But, when the pain continued, the Republic of Ireland international eventually underwent an exploratory operation which showed some damage, and a little bone was pinned.
He said: “I wouldn’t say it was mis-diagnosed, but it took a bit longer than expected.
“But I had an x-ray in my medical which showed everything is in place – Wolves wouldn’t have signed me without having a good look at that.
“People only need to look at my Prozone statistics and that will tell you enough.
“I know what I’m capable of and where I want to get to and I’ll make sure I get there.
“I’ll miss the first few games of the season. Hopefully it won’t be too many but for the next two months, I’m going to be working tirelessly.
“Everyone is happy and I’m over the worst of it now.”
Wolves will step up their bid to sign Hull City winger Stephen Hunt this weekend.
Mick McCarthy looks set to return to the Tigers to further strengthen his squad for a second Premier League campaign with a move for Hunt.
Despite recently hinting his interest in the Ireland winger may have waned, it is understood that McCarthy is determined to have him in his squad next season.
Hunt, who is married to the sister of Wolves striker Kevin Doyle, missed the latter stages of City's season with a foot injury which will also entirely rule him out of pre-season.
A potential return date has been estimated as October at the earliest, although there are some fears it could be Christmas before he is ready to make a full return.
But a source close to the player has told the Mail that initial discussions have been held between the two clubs in recent days during negotiations over Mouyokolo's move.
And it is thought those talks will advance with a view to a deal being struck for Hunt in the next seven days.
Hunt's injury, combined with City's obvious need to sell, will prevent the Tigers from securing anywhere near the £5m offered by Wolves in January for the recently-crowned player of the season. But it is thought Wolves could yet beat the £3.5m offer already made by West Brom.
Premiership managers Mick McCarthy and Roberto Martinez have issued a stern hands off warning to Premier League rivals over their in-form Irish players Kevin Doyle and James McCarthy.
The Irish duo only moved to the English Premier League, for a combined fee of £7million, last summer when Doyle left Reading for Wolves while McCarthy quit SPL side Hamilton to join Wigan.
But their valuation on the transfer market has rocketed after a season which has seen Doyle and McCarthy score eight goals between them and impress many with their work rate and determination.
Arsenal and Liverpool have both been linked with teenager McCarthy, who made his Ireland debut against Brazil earlier this month, while Doyle has a long list of admirers due to his superb form for Wolves.
But Wolves boss McCarthy believes that Doyle will spurn any suitors if the Molineux club avoid relegation this season and insists that he does not want to sell the Wexford-born star.
After last nights 3-1 win over Burnley, McCarthy and Doyle are likely to remain in the top flight next season.
"He loves it where he is. It's what makes the world go around, if a bigger, better, richer club gets in his head like any other player. But let me say, no-one would turn his head.
"I hope he scores another five or six goals and he is brilliant, keeps us up and everyone wants him and then we have a problem to deal with. I'd like to have that problem," added McCarthy, who was delighted with Doyle's selfless display in last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and his goal and contribution to the defeat of Burnley on Tuesday evening.
"He has had another great performance. We knew what we were buying. He was our signature player. I knew what I was buying and he's been everything I thought and probably more."
Wigan are aware that Arsenal have been keeping a special eye on McCarthy this season and it seems that a summer move for the Glasgow native is inevitable, but boss Martinez wants to keep McCarthy, and highly-rated forward Victor Moses, at the club.
"Can Wigan keep them? You'll have to ask the chairman that but I think they want to play 60 games for Wigan and them move on to the next level, but they are not ready for that yet," said Martinez.
"Maybe because they are ready to play in the Premier League now at that young age shows they are mature, but I don't think they want to go anywhere else."
One Team In Ireland : Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is resigned to losing star striker Kevin Doyle if one of the Premier League's big guns come in for him at the end of the season.
The £6.5million signing from Reading has impressed McCarthy with his all-round play, despite only scoring six goals this season.
McCarthy has deployed the Ireland international as a lone striker in a revamped 4-5-1 formation that has reaped rewards in recent weeks, with a 1-0 win over Tottenham and a point against Liverpool, which have lifted Wolves out of the relegation zone.
McCarthy said: "I'd hate to put a value on Kevin. He is a very, very good Premier League player.
"He is playing for a team scrapping at the bottom, he has scored his six goals, he has caused everyone he has played against problems.
"He started off with a hernia when he came here so he got off to a slow start, missed games, then came back and wasn't fully fit.
"But since he has got fit, he has proved to be the player he was two or three years ago in the Premier League when he scored 12-14 goals."
When asked if Doyle could become a target for clubs this summer, McCarthy admitted: "Look, when someone plays well, that goes with the territory.
"I never lose any sleep about anything like that, because I can't do anything about it.
"It doesn't concern me at all. Doyley came here and is loving it and, if we stay up, we are a Premier League club and he would still be loving it.
"But if someone like a Manchester United come in and ask and offer, it is bloody hard work then isn't it?"
McCarthy is unsurprised Doyle has made such an effective switch from operating in a 4-4-2 formation to his current role as the sole forward player.
He said: "Kevin is relishing it. He has played the role before. He has a very good understanding of it. He loves it. He is up against two centre-halves, occupies them for most of the game.
"I think he has got better. I thought he was a top-drawer signing or I wouldn't have paid what I paid for him when I went out and did it."
Ireland international forward Andy Keogh suffered a long-term injury blow and has been ruled out for three months after damaging a ligament and tendon in his ankle in training yesterday and is set to undergo surgery.
Wolves Manager Mick McCarthy said: “Very sadly, Andy has damaged his ankle ligaments and tendon and has to have an operation. He will be out for 12 weeks.
“It’s a huge blow, because he is a great kid and he was so devastated when he got the news after he did it yesterday. He was running through on goal and got clipped as he landed.
“He scored a goal jumping over Wayne Hennessey and just rocked his ankle.”
Keogh was arguably Wolves’ best player in pre-season and had a superb first month in the Premier League, with the winner at Wigan the highlight of his encouraging early performances.
