Keogh and Elliot first choice

Mick McCarthy today backed Andy Keogh and Stephen Elliott to lead the promotion charge - insisting they have set the "benchmark" for the rest of Wolves' striking pack.Boss McCarthy reckons Keogh and Elliott epitomise the high tempo game he wants his side to play this season - and insists they can provide the goals to fire Wolves this season.

McCarthy was at pains to emphasise he is not freezing out top scorer Freddy Eastwood or Jay Bothroyd - but his preference was underlined after they were named for tonight's reserves clash with Coventry.

"I have to be honest, I thought that Elliott and Keogh early on in the season were my best partnership and that is why I went back to them on Saturday," he said.

"The reason for that is that they do not let the opposition back four have a second to play.

"We've got quality players and a few permutations that we can have up front, but I just think those two have set the benchmark for anyone who plays up front. That is the level that I require from my strikers."

Keogh and Elliott were paired together for the second time for Saturday's win against Norwich - and McCarthy was impressed.

"Keogh hadn't scored, but he deserved to stay in the team purely because of his workrate and the way he plays the game," he said.

"I think at times Andy's felt like I've been giving him a hard time.

"But I thought he reacted fantastically - his all-round game was much better on Saturday.

"And it was a great reaction by Stephen Elliott to being dropped. He made the chances and on another day he'll score his goals."

The Keogh-Elliott tandem leaves £1.5m signing Eastwood on the fringes of first team football. "I don't think Freddy or Jay will like it, and I don't mind that, because I want them to want to be in the team," he said.