WOLVES boss Dave Jones has pulled the plug on any plans to sign Blackburn striker Dwight Yorke.

Wanderers contacted Rovers earlier this week to enquire about the striker's status at Ewood with a view to possibly taking the former Manchester United ace on loan.

But when the Midlands club heard that Yorke still had 18 months left to run on his current deal with Rovers, they decided to abandon their interest.

That means Yorke will be in Graeme Souness's squad to face Wanderers in a crunch Premiership clash at Molineux tonight.

And the 32-year-old looks set to remain at Ewood for the foreseeable future because Souness can't afford to let any of his four remaining strikers go without lining up an immediate replacement.

"I'm not going to say we haven't discussed players from Blackburn because we talk about lots of players from a variety of clubs," said Wolves' chief executive Jez Moxey today.

"I suppose Blackburn are interested in off-loading Dwight Yorke which is why it has hit the media.

"When we have got something substantial to say we will in-form people accordingly."

With finances currently tight at Ewood, Souness knows he may well have to trade in order to generate transfer funds to bring in reinforcements.

He has already failed in a bid to sign Leicester's Muzzy Izzet and he admitted he didn't have the cash to finance a move for Celtic's Chris Sutton.

"I think everyone realises the situation we find ourselves in and what the consequences are of the very worst thing that can happen," said Souness.

"And this is a time to give every possibility careful thought.

"I think we have to bring people in. We've been unfortunate with injuries this season but that's part and parcel of this game.

"Ideally, if you are going to get injuries you want them to be spread around the different areas of your team.

"But, as we speak, we've got one short-term and two long-term injuries to players in midfield and those players could have come in and done a job for us."

Souness is frustrated by the lack of funds at his disposal but at the same time he's also well aware of the pressure the board are under to keep the club on an even keel financially.

Nevertheless, Souness has put his case for more transfer cash.

"It's fair to say that I'm being quite forceful. I think that we really need to strengthen at this time," said the Rovers boss, who is also keen on Real Sociedad winger Javier De Pedro.

"We don't carry a big squad and I think that everyone connected with the club realises that we need to strengthen but money is tight which makes things difficult."

Rovers did complete one piece of business yesterday when they signed Peter Enckelman in a £150,000 deal from Aston Villa.

The Finnish international has signed a three and a half year contract with the club and Villa could receive further payments depending on Rovers' final league position and the number of appearances Enckelman makes.

Meanwhile, Souness admits tonight's clash with Wolves is crucial for both sides.

"It's a very, very big game for both teams. They'll see this as an opportunity to peg us back and an opportunity to try to bring someone else into that group.

"And we see it as a chance to open up a gap.

"In the context of the season, it's three points but in terms of the bigger picture, we'll only know the answer to that come the end of the season."

Brett Emerton looks set to return after a foot injury but Steven Reid is still side-lined by a hamstring problem.

Rovers' squad is: Friedel, Yelldell, Todd, Neill, Short, Babbel, Gresko, Tugay, Flitcroft, Gallagher, Emerton, Cole, Baggio, Yorke, Jansen, Johansson, Taylor.