Ince: Premiership comes first

Paul Ince maintains top-flight survival must always remain Wolves’ priority - but would welcome the boost of a decent run in the Carling Cup.

Wolves face Arsenal at Highbury tonight after extending their unbeaten home run to six games following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle.

However, with two more Barclaycard Premiership matches on the road coming up, Ince knows Wolves will have to be on the top of their game if they are to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.

Ince said: “We need points – but we would still like to make the next round.

“The cup is a bonus – it is the Premiership that comes first. Our main priority is to stay in the Premiership.”

Ince faces a late fitness test on the ankle injury which kept him out of the Newcastle game, but the former England midfielder remains focused.

“If I play I will look forward to it,” he said. “If I don’t, I will look forward to our next league game at Tottenham.”

Wolves boss Dave Jones also believes a shock result in the Carling Cup tonight would help build confidence for the battles ahead to stay in the top flight.

“We want to go as far as we can,” he said. “Any game you play in you want to win.

“We are playing a side in the top three, so there are no easy games for us.

“The boys are looking forward to going down there, as is everyone associated with the club.

“We know that it is going to be a really tough game for us and we have just got to get on with it.

“Winning breeds confidence and when you are full of confidence, nine times out of 10 you do well and we are looking to carry on the good work we put in against Newcastle.

“Confidence is good in the camp. You have to keep plugging away and not get disheartened by things.”

While Ince could yet shake off his injury to feature at Highbury, Colin Cameron is still unfit because of a stomach problem.

Striker Steffen Iversen is sidelined with a calf problem and central defender Isaac Okoronkwo has a hamstring strain.

Goalkeeper Andy Marshall, who is on loan from Ipswich, has been given permission to play by the Suffolk club.

Wolves have, meanwhile, made an approach to Romanian international striker Adrian Ilie, who is a free agent after leaving Alaves last summer.

Jones is keen on the former Galatasaray marksman, but would want him to train with the club and have his fitness assessed before looking to set up any permanent move when the transfer window reopens in January.