Jarvis boost for Wolves

Posted Sunday, May 09, 2010 by PA

Wolves are set to be boosted by the return of winger Matt Jarvis for the final Barclays Premier League game of the season against Sunderland.

Jarvis has missed the last two matches with a thigh strain but is poised to come in for on-loan Charleroi midfielder Geoffrey Mujangi Bia, who made his first league start for Wolves in last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth.

The recall of Jarvis is set to be the only change for manager Mick McCarthy.

Left-back Stephen Ward is recovering from knee surgery but should be fit for the start of pre-season training.

Striker Kevin Doyle is desperate not to end the season with back-to-back defeats.

Having secured their Premier League survival last month, Wolves slumped 3-1 at relegated Portsmouth last weekend - only their second loss in nine games.

While nothing can take the shine off their success in surviving their first term back in the top flight, Doyle is keen to ensure Wolves end their season with a win in front of a sell-out crowd at Molineux.

The eight-goal Republic of Ireland international said: "Now we've got one game left it will be nice to be able to round off the season on a high by not being beaten.

"We'll have been safe for two weeks by then and we should be raring to go and wanting to finish on a high, so hopefully we can get something from the game."

Doyle, who became Wolves' record signing when he arrived from Reading in a #6.5million deal last summer, added: "We've still got a chance of finishing 14th and that's what we're trying to do.

"That point has been made to us and we've been training as hard as ever.

"Whatever happens on Sunday, I don't think we will ruin the season because we're safe, but it would be nice to go out on a high."

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will be without David Meyler and Lee Cattermole.

Meyler has undergone surgery to repair the ligaments in his right knee after being carried off on a stretcher against Manchester United last weekend, and faces months on the sidelines.

Cattermole suffered an injury to his clavicle joint in training in midweek, but did not dislocate his shoulder as was first feared.

Defender John Mensah will be missing once again as he continues to battle against a persistent hamstring problem, as will George McCartney (also hamstring) and Andy Reid (calf).

However, full-back Alan Hutton returns after suspension while young midfielder Jack Colback, who has spent the season on loan at Ipswich, is also included.