Aliadiere Close To Wolves Debut

Wolves fans are still waiting to see the 'dream team' of Tomasz Frankowski and Jeremie Aliadiere in action together. But it came very close on Saturday, and may yet happen on Tuesday against Burnley.

Speaking at todays pre-match press briefing Hoddle confessed just how close that was.

'It was a 50/50 decision for us on Friday as to whether he'd play against Crewe but then when he turned in with a cold it made the decision for us. He didn't train over the weekend, we sent him home.

'We feared it might turn into flu but fortunately he has overcome that and he just feels a little fatigued. He trained well today and looked fine.'

Aliadiere has to be brought into play quickly to get him at his sharpest after having sat warming benches for most of the season. Something under-fire Hoddle is very aware of, as he explained

'We have got to bear in mind that he's not played first team for some time, probably all season. We tried to get some training in for him, we were going to do that, but we couldn't because of his heavy cold, it just took his energy away.'

He was also aware that risking him too early, with a cold would have been foolhardy to say the least

'It would have been foolish to put him on the bench or even start with him if he wasn't feeling too good so that was taken out of our hands.' he said.

With Tomasz Frankowski not receiving the supply he requires, the need to get Aliadiere fit has gained further urgency.

There is also no saying that Carl Cort will stay fit for the rest of the campaign which must be at the back of Hoddle's mind.

If a previous Freudian slip is in truth a reality, and he is playing with pain killing injections in his knee, Cort must surely be moved to the bench as soon as Aliadiere is up to starting a fixture.

And that could well be tomorrow night.

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