Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has left the door open to all of his transfer-listed players after challenging them to knuckle down in pre-season and fight for their future at Molineux.

All six of the players McCarthy made available for transfer at the end of last season – Darren Ward, Rob Edwards, Darren Potter, Stephen Elliott, Jay Bothroyd and Freddy Eastwood – remain, with most clubs keen to avoid putting players on their payroll before they begin their preparations for the new campaign.

One player there has been interest in is Eastwood but long-term admirers Coventry are running out of patience as Wolves hold out for the £1.5m they paid for the striker last summer.

And McCarthy has challenged them all to prove him wrong when they report back for pre-season training by offering them another chance if they impress sufficiently.

“The list went out at the end of the season but it might not be that they all go,” McCarthy said.

“If they don’t they’ll come back and knowing the players, those that do will be committed and trying to get into the team.

He added: “It’s their careers, and if they come back in good shape and they train well then you never know.

“It might make us think and suddenly they can get back in the side and are playing again, that’s how it happens.”

The Molineux boss insists he is unworried by the fact he is yet to offload any of the transfer-listed set, and does not expect the market to get into full swing until July.

“We’re still trying to do those deals but it all tends to quicken up in early July when people come back for training and look at their squads and what they need.”

By Brendan McLoughlin