Norwich City boss Paul Lambert insists he has not told some of his senior stars they are surplus to requirements in the summer.

Lambert flatly denied reports centre backs Zak Whitbread and Elliott Ward, along with back-up striker Aaron Wilbraham, were 'unlikely' to be offered new deals to stay at Carrow Road. The City chief repeated the party line at his Colney pre-match press call on Friday morning ahead of Wolves' weekend Premier League visit.

'I haven't spoken to any of the lads (out of contract),' he said. 'I know the story you are talking about. I don't know where that has come from. It is wrong for people to say that. I haven't even spoken to the lads themselves yet. You can't stop people from having an assumption about who is going to move and who isn't. That is fine but when you are naming people like that who I haven't even spoken to. I think that was wrong.'

Lambert reiterated the focus remains on piling fresh misery on a club hurtling towards the Championship.

'We know its going to be a really hard game. Probably not too dissimilar to the Wigan game with a team fighting for their lives,' he said. 'The good thing about my team at the minute is we are playing well, so I don't have a problem about lifting them or the morale being low. They are playing really well. They are vibrant and it is a game we have to try and win. I don't think their recent record will matter. Yes, they might be low on confidence, which can certainly happen, and we have to try and capitalise on that.'

Midfielder Anthony Pilkington has trained the last few days after being withdrawn with a hamstring problem towards the end of last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Newcastle. Centre back Dani Ayala is also back in first team training, but Lambert stated this weekend is likely to come too soon for the Spaniard and left back Marc Tierney. Back up keeper Declan Rudd is another pushing for a return to the first team squad over the coming matches after stepping up his rehab from foot surgery.