Wolves: Jody Craddock's mission to face West Bromwich Albion

Dec 11 2010 by Mark Woodward, Birmingham Mail

FORGET Blues – injured Jody Craddock only has eyes on the Baggies.

The defender will have an injection in London on December 20 which should eliminate scar tissue from a troublesome thigh injury that has bugged him for over a year.

The plan is then for a speedy return to training and hopefully first team duties around mid- January.

That obviously rules him out of tomorrow’s derby with Blues but also the trip to Albion the following week.

“The derbies are the big ones. The older you get, the more you want to play in these games – and I really, really wanted to play in these games,” Craddock said.

“Obviously, Sunderland v Newcastle is massive but these games are up there on a par with them.

“The Birmingham game is maybe not as big as West Brom. West Brom is the big one. Birmingham is a derby, maybe not massive but it is a local derby. But West Brom is the one I really, really wanted to play in.

“If I could have taken one game this season to play in, it would be the West Brom game. Home or away!”

The return clash at Molineux on May 8 is etched firmly in his thoughts.

“I just want to play in one derby this season against West Brom, then I’ll be happy.”

Craddock has been sidelined for the last eight weeks since injuring his thigh and hip against West Ham. The period has coincided with Wolves slipping to seven defeats out of nine games which has made it double frustrating.

But at least he has been able to concentrate his focus on a major exhibition of his art work which is taking the Midlands by storm this weekend.

Castle Galleries, of Wolverhampton, are showcasing 22 pieces of his work today and tomorrow.