By Stuart Smith
October 12 2005

Glenn Hoddles Wolves, many pundits pick for automatic promotion this season are currently riding high in 4th place in The Coca-Cola Championship. For many teams that may be satisfactory, but expectations are now higher than ever at the midlands club.

With just over a quarter of the season season gone Wolves face an important patch of fixtures. 9 games in 6 weeks including 2 against league leaders Sheffield United, 2 against Derby, and both Southampton and Norwich at home. If Wolves are to mount any sort of serious challenge on table topping United they cannot afford any further lapses like those that have seen the black country side drop 6 valuable home points to Millwall and Burnley, and 3 away to Leeds.

At times Hoddles side have flattered to decieve, showing patches of the silky attacking football that typified his playing career, only to revert back to old habits and gift opponents goals that have led to their 3 losses and 2 goalscoring draws, points that would see them now topping the table. The loss of inspirational skipper Paul Ince first to a thigh injury, and now to a chest infection, and new signing Darren Anderton to a shin problem has left the Wolves midfield weakened enough for many fans to question the clubs apparent inactivity in the loan transfer market. Recent stories involving a move for Garry Flitcroft have yet to become reality and with Tottenham's Martin Jol issuing an apparent "come and get them" notice on several desireable midfield players Chief Executive Jez Moxey's claims that "We could bring someone on loan right now if the right player was found, but it's more about availability than anything else" may fall on deaf ears.

The team remain upbeat and focussed on pushing all out for the title In a recent interview Michael Oakes ironically commented "Barring injuries, theres no reason why, if we perform at the top of our game, we cant be right up there. The title is something to aim for.". With Jackie Macnamara and Stefan Postma joining Ince, Matt Murray and Anderton in the treatment room, and minor niggles for George Ndah and youngster Mark Davies, injuries are starting to be a factor, although panic hasnt started to set in yet. That is reserved for the mounting stories that terrace favourite Kenny Miller will leave the club for free at the end of this season. Wolves rejected bids of up to a million pounds for him in the transfer window and automatic promotion is seen by many as the only way to secure his services outside of their current campaign. Keeper Matt Murray is now in the final stages of his long awaited comeback. Murray, out since January returned to full training this week after twice breaking his foot. Since his starring role in Wolves promotion season a series of crippling injuries have limited his appearances but he is now expected to be back in contention for a first team place by the new year. However, there is still no concusive news on eth extent of former Celtic man Macnamara's knee injury. It will be another 3 weeks before it is known if he will require surgery, although Hoddle remains upbeat that it will not require the experienced defender to undergo an operation

Wolves next fixture at Bramall Lane threatens to be a lively affair. Both teams will be eager to play attractive football, but with little love lost between the two sides, and 12 goals in the last 2 meetings both goalkeepers and the referee could be in for a very busy afternoon. One man sure to be under the microscope will be Blades boss Neil Warnock. The two time winner of Manager Of The Month was reported for using "abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official" during his sides 2-1 defeat at Reading earlier this month and has until 21st October to state his case before an FA disciplinary panel. Sheffield are so far unbeaten at home, but Wolves have captured 7 out of their last 9 points on the road with emphatic victories at Crewe and Stoke. With Sheffield threatening to open a 14 point gap over their rivals this may not be the end of their season, but a loss could see Wolves hopes of a Championship title start to slip beyond their grasp. With their initial allocation of 2200 away tickets sold out, and less than 800 remaining on sale, the black country fans are bound to make their presence known and the stage is set for a fiery encounter, but will Hoddle's Wolves' bite be enough to blunt Warnock's Blades ?