West Ham United-Wolverhampton Preview

CHRIS TUPLING,

(AP) -- LONDON (SE) - Mick McCarthy's plans to lead Wolves into the Premier League in a blaze of glory have been ruined by a long list of injuries.

Wolves take on West Ham at Molineux on Saturday but McCarthy fears it will be anything but the festive occasion it promised to be.

McCarthy's team stormed out of the Championship as champions and expectations in the West Midlands are high.

But McCarthy's best-laid plans are in danger of being overwhelmed by the injuries sustained over the pre-season period and worsened by the midweek international programme.

Kevin Doyle, the club's record 6.5 million pounds signing from Reading, returned from the Republic of Ireland's 3-0 home defeat by Australia with a groin injury only three weeks after a hernia operation.

Defender Christopher Berra lasted only 12 minutes of Scotland's World Cup setback in Norway before sustaining a hamstring injury and Dave Edwards returned from the Welsh camp with a groin injury.

Doyle was only given permission to play one half of the Australian match because McCarthy wanted a gentle reintroduction after surgery but he did not even last that long.

Doyle said: "I think I have done my groin. The injury happened in the last minute of the first half and I was going to come off anyway.

"The problem is that I don't know if I am going to be fit to face West Ham. I am desperate to play."

McCarthy will check the fitness of all three before he can name his squad for one of the club's biggest matches in recent history.

Chris Iwelumo, a stalwart of the promotion side, will not be fit until October so McCarthy already knew he would not be at full strength.

McCarthy said: "You want to make the best possible start in the Premier League but we have got our injuries and we have to deal with it. That's why you need big squads."

McCarthy has yet to decide whether Jody Craddock or Karl Henry will lead the side out for the first time while Andrew Surman, a 1.2 million pounds signing from Southampton, will be making his Premier League debut.

Michael Mancienne, ready to rejoin on loan from Chelsea, is lined up to start in defence.

West Ham finished a comfortable ninth place last season and manager Gianfranco Zola is looking for an improvement.

Zola must cope without left winger Luis Boa Morte until after Christmas because of a knee injury and last season's captain Lucas Neill is still thinking over a move to Sunderland.

But Zola has made only one major signing, teenaged left back Fabio Daprela arriving from Zurich, but the Hammers believe they have a big enough squad to again challenge for a Europa Cup place.

Zola said: "Wolves will be very keen to beat us on their return to the Premier League so it is a tough start for us.

"But I am convinced we have enough quality to do well this season. If we are to continue to improve we must be able to cope with occasions like this one on Saturday."

Updated August 13, 2009