Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today revealed he wants to keep Jamie O’Hara at Molineux “for a long time”.

O’Hara has become an instant hit with fans and scored the second goal of his loan spell in Saturday’s 4-0 triumph over Blackpool. And, with Wolves having negotiated an option for a permanent deal in the summer, McCarthy is hoping to keep the midfielder at the club.

“He has already made a difference to us and it’s great to have him around the place as well as in the team,” said McCarthy.

“He makes us play, he gets on the ball and you can see why he’s been a Tottenham player. Hopefully he will be a Wolves player for a long time. I see him as a bit of a throwback. He’s like an old-fashioned footballer.

“He loves playing, he’s chirpy around the place and has always got a comment about something. He’s brought a lot to the club. He’s a player I want to keep and a player who wants to come here as well. He’s helped us already.

“He won’t be able to play next week (against Spurs) but he probably needs a rest. He’s only just come back from rehab and he’s played in all our games and been terrific.”

O’Hara has reiterated his interest in making the loan move permanent in the summer. “I want to go somewhere where I am going to play every week and I want to be settled somewhere for a good three or four years,” he said.

Saturday’s victory took Wolves out of the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference but McCarthy is refusing to read any significance into the latest standings.

“May 22 (the final day of the season) is all I’m interested in,” he said.