McCarthy has options for Everton clash - 7M sport

McCarthy has options for Everton clash

Posted Saturday, March 27, 2010 by PA

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy's only concern is whether to freshen up his side for the home Barclays Premier League encounter with Everton.

McCarthy has no new injury worries following Tuesday's impressive 3-1 win at West Ham which lifted Wolves seven points clear of the bottom three.

Full-back Stephen Ward and midfielder Adlene Guedioura were rested for the Upton Park clash with McCarthy bringing George Elokobi and Michael Mancienne into the side.

Wolves, who will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to four games after collecting seven points from the last three matches, drew 1-1 against Everton at Goodison Park in October.

McCarthy believes his Wolves players have "come of age" in the Barclays Premier League but warned there is still work to do before safety is assured.

Despite their recent form, McCarthy is taking nothing for granted and was highly impressed when watching Everton win 2-0 against Manchester City at Eastlands on Wednesday.

He said: "I kept banging on that our luck would change and that if we kept on playing the way we were playing then we would get points and it has turned out that way. If you had asked me if we would get seven points before we played these last three games, I would have said no. If someone had given us three points, a point a game, we would probably have all taken it.

"The players have been terrific and I congratulate them on their performances in the same way as they get it in the ear when they don't play well. But we still need some more points. We can't just take our foot off the gas and think we are in the Premier League for the foreseeable future."

Everton will give goalkeeper Tim Howard a late fitness test.

The American international was unable to take goal kicks during Wednesday's 2-0 win at Manchester City due to a thigh strain. However, boss David Moyes is hopeful Howard will be able to play at Molineux.

Moyes has striker Victor Anichebe back in the squad after a rib injury, while midfielders Tim Cahill and Jack Rodwell have slight hamstring problems.

David Moyes admits that his Everton players are refusing to give up on their dream of European qualification despite the odds still being stacked against them.

Everton have lost just two of their last 17 games and need to maintain that form at olves, where a win could put them level on points with Liverpool and Aston Villa who are in sixth and seventh places.

Moyes has continually played down Everton's chances of gate-crashing the European party after the team gave themselves a real handicap by taking only 14 points from their first 15 games.

But the outstanding performance and victory at fifth-placed Manchester City on Wednesday has again cranked up the levels of expectation at Goodison Park.

Moyes said: "We could come up on the blind side but we need teams above us to falter, to really come apart. But my players are trying their hardest to achieve something despite the poor start we had to the campaign that really did for us.

"The players have to show their quality to finish higher up the table and they are certainly going for it. But if we lose, our ambition would be over. The teams at the top are hanging in there, they are keeping themselves just away from us. But we won't be giving up even if it will be very tough."

Tag:


Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.