Since Matt Jarvis got his England call-up, it’s left many of us praising the work of Mick McCarthy and his backroom staff. The manager has consistently picked up practically unknown players for minimal fees and turned them into solid, proven Premiership players.
Let’s look at Jarvis himself for instance. He signed for a mere £600k from Gillingham in 2007, and in just four seasons he has become one of the most feared wingers in the Premier League. As a 20-year old he always had pace and the raw ability, but his game has improved drastically on the whole and he is now a complete winger. His fantastic form this season has led him to being constantly linked with the likes of Liverpool, and a summer move is perhaps on the cards. Signed for: £600k - Potential value: £8m-£10m.
Despite George Elokobi coming under criticism from many, he has undoubtedly improved massively over the past couple of seasons. He initially signed from Colchester for just £200k in January 2008 and became an instant hit. The 25-year old bounced back from a cruciate ligament injury and has made over 50 appearances for Wolves since they got promoted two seasons ago. His recent form this season meant he earned his first International cap for Cameroon last week. Signed for: £200k – Potential value: £2m-£3.5m.
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Karl Henry has captained our side on and off for four seasons and has proven to be an inspiration in the engine room at the heart of our midfield. He certainly has his critics, but the majority can see the work and effort he puts in to keep this Wolves side ticking. After signing with Wolves back in 2006, he has made over 150 appearances for the club. He has proven to be a typical Mick McCarthy signing; he wears his heart on his sleeve and never gives up. Signed for: £100k – Potential value - £3m-£4m.
As aforementioned, it’s not just the manager’s shrewd signings that need to be praised. It’s also the work of his backroom staff. The Wolves Academy has produced some fine players in the past through passion and commitment, and there are many out there within the first-team squad who have worked hard to earn their place at the top.
Wayne Hennessey has really found his feet within the top flight this season. Despite originally being second to Marcus Hahnemann earlier in the season, he kept knocking on the door and eventually got given the chance - and he’s never looked back. Hennessey was a firm fixture in the Wolves side during their promotion campaign and now has his feet firmly in between the sticks as we head into the final stretch of our relegation battle. He is first choice goalkeeper for Wales, and has recently been linked with a summer move to Manchester City. Signed for: N/A – Potential value: £4m-£6m.
There are several other players that could be mentioned on this subject matter, including the likes of Michael Kightly, Adlene Guedioura & Adam Hammill, but I’ve left them out as they haven’t yet been given the time to prove how much they are truly worth at the top level. However, the early signs are considerably promising, and there are no doubts amongst the Wolves faithful that these players will deliver beyond expectations under our current management team.
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