Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has been linked with a move to bring Republic Of Ireland defender Eddie Nolan to Molineux. The 21-year old Preston North End man who signed from Blackburn Rovers is reported to be the subject of a potential half a million offer from Wanderers. Nolan will be seen as a solid bolster to the defence and will strengthen a key area in McCarthy’s task off keeping Wolves in the Premier League.

 

The news of a determination on behalf of the club to bring in additional players will temper the fan’s disappointment after the 1-0 defeat by local rivals Birmingham City. An early Lee Bowyer strike was enough to give the Blues all three points and Marcus Hahnemann was by far the busier goalkeeper as Wolves failed to offer a response. This was despite record signing Kevin Doyle’s pre-match admission that he would take a dive to earn a penalty for his side if necessary.

With the recent debate over ‘simulation’ especially sensitive after Birmingham were robbed at Anfield after David Ngog won a penalty after falling in the box without contact, Doyle spoke out after being on the receiving end of Thierry Henry’s handball in the recent World Cup play-off for the Republic Of Ireland against France.

Doyle said “If you get knocked from behind but try to stay up and control the ball at the same time you end up losing it. Then everyone criticises you for not going down. I had that in our game against Villa. Everyone had a go at me for staying on my feet. You just can’t win as a striker.”