Mick McCarthy says Wolves must hit the ground running and have a good start like this season to give themselves a chance of staying in the Premier League.

Wolves stormed from the blocks this season, winning seven and drawing one of their first eight games to take a convincing lead in the Championship.

Boss McCarthy accepts his side won’t be able to repeat that form in the Premier League, but he believes it’s vital his team try to maintain the momentum of this season, which saw Wolves win eight and draw two of their final 11 games.

“I doubt we’ll do it as well as we did it this season,” said McCarthy.

“It makes a hell of a difference to your self-belief and self esteem.

“If you’re not bottom, you’re not starting from two or three games in and you’re not being questioned.

“Maintaining that same level of calm about the place – whether we’ve won one or lost one – is important.”

McCarthy singles out Stoke boss Tony Pulis as his manager of the year for maintaining a belief in the camp after they achieved safety with a 2-1 victory at Hull at the weekend.

“Tony Pulis at Stoke has been brilliant at that (maintaining that same level of calm about the place). Did Stoke not win for seven games?” said the boss.

“It didn’t matter, he just kept plugging away, he highlighted a game at home that they knew they’d win and that got them back on track.”

Meanwhile, striker Chris Iwelumo is relishing the prospect of Premier League football – so he can face some of the world’s best defenders.