Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is hoping that the “brilliant” Wayne Rooney will not be fit enough to play at Molineux this evening (5.30pm).

Rooney is a doubt for Manchester United with a knee injury he aggravated playing for England against Egypt on Wednesday.

McCarthy, whose side are desperate for points in their battle for survival, said: “I would prefer him not to play and to be left at home in Manchester.

World class

“In my opinion he is brilliant. The goal that he scored recently against Arsenal epitomised him. He is world class.

“He is the complete player. I just love his attitude.

“He plays like he is playing in the school playground. He has matured and has got better and better and he is red hot at the moment.”

Wolves could do with pulling off a shock victory against United as they are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

McCarthy, who has seen his side win just one of their last nine league games, has promised to adopt a bold approach and will certainly not be setting out to try and frustrate United.

He added: “We will be going for it to try and win the game. Do United have one banana skin in a season? It may well be here.

“The fans don’t come to see us lose whoever we play against. Only recently we drew with Liverpool, beat Tottenham and played very well against Chelsea when we should have got something from the game.

“We are capable of getting a result and we are looking forward to it.

“It is a daunting task with the position that we are in but we wanted to be in with the big boys and it is a big, exciting game for us.

“It is a big ask playing against Manchester United at any time but I feel we are in good shape and have been playing well. Anything we get out of this game we will have to work hard for.”

Wolves follow the clash with United with, arguably, a more important game against relegation rivals Burnley next Saturday at Turf Moor.

McCarthy will name an unchanged side for the fourth successive game.

By MALCOLM LEE