McCarthy will be staying loyal to Wolves stars

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today vowed to continue being loyal to his best players through thick and thin.

Nine Wolves players have been ever-presents this season – goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and the back four, plus Karl Henry, Jamie O'Hara and Matt Jarvis in midfield and Kevin Doyle up front – which is more than any other Premier League club.

All but Jarvis have started every league game, but the England international maintained his record with substitute appearances in the last two games.

Jarvis is one of several players who suffered a dip in form and confidence during the team's run of one point in seven games which had fans questioning McCarthy and his players.

But the manager stuck with his players and maintained that once a player becomes first choice, he retains the faith of the manager.

"It's easy for those who don't have to do it to say 'he shouldn't be playing, drop him, he's no good'," said the boss. "You have to think 'hold on a minute', because we've got to get the best out of them.

"Of course there's a squad and everyone has their chance, but when you're managing players, if you've got what you think is your best players in the team, you have to support them to get the best out of them.

"One sure-fire way of wrecking that is if they have a bad game and you leave them out."

Wolves trio Stephen Ward, Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle are in Ireland's line-up for tonight's Euro 2012 play-off second leg against Estonia in Dublin.