McCarthy hails Berra

After a stuttering start to his Molineux career, former Jambos skipper Berra has helped his new club keep a hat-trick of clean sheets to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

And McCarthy believes there is even more to come from the 24-year-old Scotland international, who he signed last month.

"He said it himself: judge him after five, six or 10 games," McCarthy said ahead of tomorrow's Molineux clash with bottom of the table Charlton Athletic.

"He's been a really good addition, he's been terrific.

"And when he's had a pre-season with us and he knows a bit more about us he'll be even better."

Meanwhile, Dave Edwards insists Wolves remain the hungriest team to win promotion because there are no big-timers or Premier League earners at Molineux.

Rivals Birmingham are said to have a £21m wage bill – more than double what Wolves are paying their young guns, while Reading's would be on a par with Blues' having been relegated a year ago.

But 22-year-old midfielder Edwards isn't complaining and reckons their rivals maybe haven't got the same collective belief and spirit.

"If you look at the teams with bigger squads and bigger names, they've got players on more money and there's a lot of individuality about them, which isn't so good at times," he said.

"That's why the gaffer has hand-picked his players and having been here almost three years, I think he's finally got what he wants.

"He's got a group of young and enthusiastic players as well as quality in the team that has shone through this season.

"So the togetherness is a big factor in us hopefully being promoted this season."