Injury strikes again for Murray

Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray is facing an estimated six months on the sidelines after doctors diagnosed a cruciate knee ligament tear.

The 26-year-old picked up the injury during a training session and an exploratory operation has now confirmed the severity of the problem.

Murray had suffered a similar injury to the same, left knee while on loan at Kingstonian seven years ago and now he has been scheduled for reconstructive surgery which is expected to be performed before the end of the month.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy said: “It is a blow to us and a major disappointment for Matt.

“He had a great season last year and was really looking forward to the new one.

“Fortunately, we have an excellent young goalkeeper in Wayne Hennessey who can step into the team and do well for us.”

Hennessey, 20, had deputised for Murray during last season’s Championship play-off semi-final defeats to West Brom after Molineux’s first-choice goalkeeper suffered a fractured shoulder.

But it was while on a three-month loan that Hennessey helped Stockport to a Football League-record nine consecutive clean-sheet wins earlier in 2006-07.

With third choice Carl Ikeme currently recovering from a knee operation of his own, Hennessey counts as the only fit goalkeeper on Wanderers’ books.

Now McCarthy is expected to step up his search for a loan signing to provide cover for Hennessey in time for the Championship curtain-raiser against visiting Watford on Saturday.