Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today admitted it was “unlikely” he would make any more signings before the big kick-off.

McCarthy, who must move players out before bringing anyone in, has had his phone glued to his ear this week trying to wheel and deal, with a midfielder top of his wishlist.

But he has seen Liverpool’s Jay Spearing pledge to fight for his place at Anfield, while Michael Johnson is poised to rejoin his former Manchester City boss Sven Goran-Eriksson at ambitious Leicester.

Asked if he was expecting more new faces before the start of the season, McCarthy said: “I don’t know, but it’s unlikely actually, unless we can find a gem from somewhere who’s good with both feet, who can head it, who’s quick and who doesn’t cost anything!

“We don’t know, but we’ll keep looking.

“There’s still quite a lot of time to go in the window actually and who’s to say there might be someone leave and someone else come in?”

McCarthy insisted none of the ‘family silver’ will be sold, although Richard Stearman was today linked with a move to Saturday’s opponents Ipswich.

“It won’t be Jarvis, Doyle or Fletcher,” he said. “But something might happen. I’m not expecting it, but it could.”

The Wolves boss admitted there wouldn’t be many surprises in his starting line-up for the curtain-raiser against Blackburn on August 13. Four of the back five who started last night’s 2-0 win at Celtic – Wayne Hennessey, Richard Stearman, Roger Johnson and George Elokobi – got a full game, while Christophe Berra played 81 minutes.

“There won’t be too many shocks,” said the boss. “It’s just a matter of how fit they get and who’s in front in terms of preparation.”