Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today admitted there is “a lot of interest” in Matt Jarvis – but vowed to fight off the big guns if they stay up.

Liverpool and Villa have this week been linked with moves for Jarvis, who won his first England cap against Ghana on Tuesday.

McCarthy would find it virtually impossible to keep the 24-year-old, who signed a five-year deal in September, if Wolves went down.

And he faces a fight to hold on to him if they win their survival battle. “There’s a lot of interest in Jarvis,” said the boss.

“I know having spoken to managers – top managers – and they like him. He’s quick, he runs past full-backs, puts the ball in the box, scores goals and he works back.

“So I’d be disappointed if there was no interest..

“But no-one is going anywhere now because we’ve got games to keep us in the Premier League and then we can fight all the big ones off.” McCarthy admits it would be foolish to say Jarvis is not for sale given the astronomical figures players are sold for.

“It’s ridiculous to say that when £50m was spent on Torres and £35m on Carroll,” he admitted.

“There comes a time if a bigger club comes in, and it’s a better opportunity, then the player wants it or it is too good to turn down.

“So I’m never going to say no-one is not for sale – that would be downright stupid.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy revealed his delight at his strongest wing combination ever.

For the first time in his near five-year reign at Molineux, McCarthy has four fully-fit widemen – Jarvis, Adam Hammill, Michael Kightly and Stephen Hunt.

The latter two joined the squad flying to Newcastle yesterday for today’s game at St James’ Park.

The return of Kightly and Hunt as well as Michael Mancienne and Adlene Guedioura leaves McCarthy with his strongest squad of his tenure.