McCarthy: I share blame for Freddy's failure

Mick McCarthy today kicked off the countdown to Freddy Eastwood's first return to Molineux by insisting manager and player were at fault for the £1.5m signing's flopped move to Wolves.

The Wolves boss revealed there was no rift between him and the Coventry striker and that they shared a good relationship right until Eastwood left. And McCarthy says he wanted the former Southend man to be a success "more than anyone" for Wolves.

"We had loads of chats – he wanted to play," said McCarthy. "I didn't sign him with the intention of him leaving within 12 months.

"I wanted him to be a success more than anyone and the fact that he wasn't, might be down to a few of us – certainly me and him.

"I signed Freddy in the best of faith and wanted him to do well here. He didn't and it didn't work particularly well for him and I didn't work particularly well for him.

"But he went to Coventry with my best wishes and he still has those."

McCarthy added: "It's natural he will want to put one over on us. But we had a really good relationship – there was no animosity between us right until the day he left. I wish him nothing but the best. What people sometimes don't understand is there is a preference of the manager to pick different players.

"Providing they're treated with respect when they're not playing and I'm treated with respect in turn, there's no problem and that was always the case.

"It just didn't happen for him here, but he seems to be enjoying his football there. I wish him the very best of luck."