Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today hinted that he may turn to the loan market to strengthen his squad once he sells players.

Premier League teams are allowed two loans from fellow top-flight clubs and Wolves used both last season with Michael Mancienne and Marcus Bent, then Jamie O’Hara.

McCarthy wants a left-back and a central midfielder and, although they rejected the chance to take Chelsea defender Ryan Bertrand, Wolves have monitored young Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury, who has been linked with a return to Norwich.

His targets are not thought to include West Ham’s Mark Noble, with whom he has also been linked.

“I’m delighted with the squad as it is now,” said the boss. “But we’ll continue to look and something may come up. We’ve got the possibility of loan deals as well.”

McCarthy was without summer signings O’Hara and Dorus De Vries (groin) for Saturday’s opening friendly at Crewe, which they lost 2-1, but the other new boy, Roger Johnson, was the pick as the manager fielded two different teams.

Winger Michael Kightly today insisted he was the “happiest boy alive” as he backed himself to be flying for Wolves’ big kick-off.

The 25-year-old is now pain-free and aiming to be fully fit for the start of a season for the first time since 2008 after operations to cure patella tendonitis.

“I’m buzzing to be back and it’s nice I can move around the pitch like I used to,” he said.

By TIM NASH