Wolverhampton Wanderers are preparing to release some of the players who have failed to win the hearts and minds of the Molineux faithful as the club steps up its bid to break into the play-off places in the Coca-Cola Championships.

Despite what has hitherto been seen as a disappointing and unfulfilling season for Mick McCarthy's side, the main goal of securing Premier League football next season is still well within their grasp. They are in tenth place in the division but only five points off the top six and with a game in hand.

Wolves have one of the larger squads in the division at their disposal, which has helped as they have been hit by injury in recent weeks and are about to enter a key and congested period of the campaign. But with several of the injured players on the brink of returning to fitness, McCarthy admitted he will consider letting his fringe players go out on loan to get some first-team experience.

Northampton Town are one side said to be interested in Matt Jarvis and winger Daniel Jones, who was at the Cobblers earlier in the season.

"I will possibly let a few out before the end of the season," said the manager. "Daniel Jones would like to go back out on-loan and play football and that would be more beneficial for him.

"But Matt Jarvis has been injured and a run of six games in three weeks puts a whole different perspective on things. We only trained with 12 players earlier in the week, so I want to make sure I have enough players to cope with the injuries."

McCarthy will be buoyed by the return to action of goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey who could make the trip to Colchester United this weekend along with Jarvis.

On top of that, Mark Davies is refusing to be ruled out for the season following a bad shoulder injury. He was training alongside fitness coach Tony Daley this week and could return in a month if his rehabilitation goes according to plan.

"It would be nice to be ready for selection in few weeks after playing in a few reserve-team games," said the homegrown youngster.

Davies will face some stiff competition to re-establish himself as one of two central midfield players at Molineux, as he did during Glenn Hoddle's stewardship two years ago.

It is an area of the pitch where McCarthy has plenty of options in Seyi Olofinjana, Karl Henry, Darron Gibson and Dave Edwards.

Davies said: "I can still remember the good times when I broke into the team and that is what I want to recapture. It won't be easy because we have a lot of good players in my position but hopefully I will return for the reserves soon."

Elliott Bennett has extended his loan deal at League Two side Bury until April 5.

* A superb shot on the turn from Bradford's Scott Phelan proved to be the deciding factor in Wolves' reserves 2-1 defeat by the Bantams at Valley Parade.

Phelan's 32nd-minute strike came shortly after David Ijahahad cancelled out Sean Taylforth's early opener for the Yorkshire side.

Taylforth netted after Billy Lumley had pushed out Tom Penford's fifth- minute effort and Ijaha converted a Scott Malone cross to put the visitors back on level terms before Phelan struck with what turned out to be the winner.