Steve Hodge in talks on Wolves role

Roger Johnson's departure this week meant the former Villa, Nottingham Forest and England midfielder now has just two players – Georg Margreitter and Kevin Doyle – left in the so-called 'group three', soon to be joined by Razak Boukari.

Hodge was brought in by boss Kenny Jackett in July to coach up to eight players out of the head coach's plans.

Since then the group has dwindled to just Margreitter and Doyle, who is currently training with Scott Sellars' Under-21s, after the exit of Jamie O'Hara, Johnson, Stephen Ward, Tongo Doumbia, Bjorn Sigurdarson and Kevin Foley over the last few months.

"Steve Hodge is still with us at present and has been with us this week," said Jackett.

"Kevin Thelwell (head of football operations) will be talking to Steve about his role in the future.

"He's a very good, experienced man who puts everything into his working week.

"He's impressed everyone with his way and with the way he's handled the situation.

"He's had to be variable as well – pre-season started off with quite a big group then it changed as it went along.

"Now we're reasonably streamlined with all the people facing the right way."

O'Hara, Johnson and Foley had their contracts cancelled and subsequently joined Blackpool, Charlton and FC Copenhagen respectively.

Ward was sold to Burnley for around £200,000, Doumbia went to Toulouse and Sigurdarson joined Foley on a season-long loan at FC Copenhagen.

Doyle is back at Molineux after a loan spell at Crystal Palace and his exile looks set to continue.

"I wouldn't hesitate to use Kevin Doyle if I felt it was the right thing," said Jackett.

"He's shown a good attitude and he trained with the Under-21s on Thursday.

"But as far as him going anywhere, I didn't think there was anything particularly close."

As for Johnson, who joined Charlton after having his contract cancelled, Jackett said: "The interest came from Charlton first and the fact he had that and then could settle his contract which had a matter of months left allowed him to join another Championship club.

"We have different combinations of centre-halves and I've mainly selected Danny Batth and Richard Stearman but we also have Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Dominic Iorfa and Kortney Hause in that position."