Steven Fletcher not for sale says Mick McCarthy

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today told Steven Fletcher to ignore the hype and carry on scoring – as he dismissed the idea of selling him.

The club record £7m signing is grabbing the limelight after his six-goal tally this season took his record to 16 in just 23 Premier League starts since his move from Burnley.

McCarthy is aware the unassuming Fletcher is attracting the headlines but insists the striker's only focus is to continue doing his job.

"He's a Premier League player scoring goals so he's going to get headlines," said the boss.

"Players always do when they're scoring goals." Asked if he thought the 24-year-old would become a transfer target soon, McCarthy said: "No. If I say yes, then I've suddenly put him up for sale, haven't I?

"So, categorically, no."

McCarthy added: "All Fletcher can do is play and score, for his career here, and his Scotland career.

"He's still only a young man, so all he can do is keep playing well and scoring.

"It's a great feeling as a footballer to be playing well.

"He's a very good player – he's excellent. It's his all-round game, but as with all strikers, it's his goals that top his performances off.

"And he wants to score – he loves scoring.

McCarthy said he hasn't set Fletcher any targets, only a desire for him to keep performing.

"Fletcher just has to be as good as he possibly can," said the boss. "I haven't set him any goals at all. My aim was always to play my best in the next game.

"As an Ireland player, I wanted to go to a European Championships or a World Cup, or to get promoted or win something.

"My call every week was just to be the best for the next Saturday or Tuesday or whenever the next game was. You can't look further than that because you're next goal is always in front of you. You play on Saturday, and whatever happens, the next one is there for you.

"I don't think the goals are a guarantee – I think it's the fact that he works hard at it. He does a lot of work with Terry (Connor, assistant manager) on his finishing – he's quite diligent at what he does."

• Dave Edwards is set for D-Day tomorrow over his chances of figuring for Wolves in Saturday’s Staffordshire derby against Stoke. The Wales international hasn’t trained since coming off with a sore groin after 32 minutes of Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester United.

See more:

• O’Hara tells Wolves to stay on front foot

• Wolves sweat as new blow hits Dave Edwards