Busy Week Ahead

On the anniversary of Glenn Hoddle's cowardly resignation, there was a sign today of just how far the club have come in the last twelve months.

Three of Mick McCarthy's young wolf pack, Stephen Ward, Andy Keogh and Michael Kightly reported back for pre season training a day early, with Stephen Ward exlpaining why to the club's official site.

'Andy and I arrived back from Ireland at the weekend and, after speaking to Kites, the three of us decided to come in and do a bit of work,' he said

'We have been sticking to the programmes that our fitness coach (Kunle Odetoyinbo) had devised for us but felt the extra day's work would help us keep ticking along.'

With the rest of the players due back tomorrow

nd Mick McCarthy still chasing additions to his squad, it promises to be a busy week all round.

There is the small matter of the Freddie Eastwood saga to be resolved, and also rumours of interest in Villa's Liam Ridgewell, as well as Sunderland's Stephen Elliot, and Billy Sharp's final destination is far from settled, although the chances of now seeing him in gold and black seem dim.

Premiership sides should soon be deciding which of their young stars in waiting can be let out on loan which offers an interesting insight to how the glamour boys view the club under Mick McCarthy.

Glenn Hoddle's personal relationship with Arsene Wenger enabled him to sign Aliadiere temporarily, but Molineux hasn't been been able to attract loanee's of his calibre that often in recent years.

Now that the ranks are no longer filled with highly paid underperformers, and with a superb training complex in place, will more Premiership managers be prepared to let their youngsters gain experience at a club which has a sterling worth ethic to match its state of the art facilities?