Bothroyd to fight for his place
Jay Bothroyd insists he is ready to answer Mick McCarthy's call for Wolves' band of out-of-favour stars to fight for their place in the starting line-up. Jay Bothroyd insists he is ready to answer Mick McCarthy's call for Wolves' band of out-of-favour stars to fight for their place in the starting line-up. The forward is the only one of the Molineux striking pack who hasn't started a game this season - but an eye-catching performance in the reserves on Tuesday showed he is raring to go if McCarthy calls on him. The striker today admitted his frustration at being made to wait for a start, but insisted he will not lose his head as he battles for a starting role.
The striker today admitted his frustration at being made to wait for a start, but insisted he will not lose his head as he battles for a starting role.
McCarthy named Andy Keogh and Stephen Elliott as his favoured front two this week - indicating that the out-of-favour forward will once again have to settle for a place on the bench at Plymouth.
"Sometimes it's hard when you're not playing and you desperately want to be playing," he said.
"Your attitude has to be right. Sulking doesn't get you into the team, but hard work does.
"I'm confident that when I do get games I will score goals, but I've got to be patient at the moment.
"And when I do get an opportunity I've got to make myself indispensible to the manager and stay in the team."
Bothroyd certainly showed the kind of desire McCarthy will be looking for during Tuesday's reserve team defeat against Coventry - scoring once and earning plaudits for a sharp display in front of the watching Wolves boss.
"I do think I'm in the manager's thinking - we all are - but the two boys up front have done well and got the spots," Bothroyd said.
"But things can change just like that, so we have to keep working hard so we're ready when we do get our opportunity."