Wolves boss defends Richard Stearman decision

Feb 25 2009 by Lisa Smith, Birmingham Post

“They’ve all got a battle to get into the team – no-one has a divine right to be in the side.

“With 12 games to go, Jody offers us a bit of experience and he does what it says on the tin.

“He’s battle-hardened, and I thought it was the right time to play him. He had a really good game.

“All the other things are in my head.”

McCarthy added: “No one likes coming out of the team, but physically, it won’t do Stears any harm, that’s for sure.

“If he has to miss one, he might have to come back, and if that’s the case, he’ll feel fresher for it.

“And, judging by the competitive edge he had last Friday and Saturday, he didn’t want to be out of the team.

“Sometimes it doesn’t do anyone any harm to be on the outside looking in.”