Mick McCarthy never lost faith in Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who has already equalled his goal tally for last season by netting twice in two games.

In Wolves’ first season back in the Barclays Premier League, Ebanks-Blake struggled to make an impression but the 24-year-old looked sharp in pre-season and followed up his goal at Everton by opening the scoring in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle at Molineux.

The result saw Wolves maintain their unbeaten start to the season, having gained five points from the opening three games.

McCarthy said: “Sylvan earned the right to be in the team and sealed that with a fabulous finish and another really good performance against Newcastle.

“It just didn’t happen for him last season and it didn’t happen for a lot of the lads early on – and then others got to grips with it quicker.

“Kevin Doyle was also playing so well up front so Sylvan didn’t get as many games as he would have wanted.

“He wasn’t as battle-hardened and sharp as he needed and wanted to be.

“This year he has had a great pre-season. He came back really hungry for it and he is a better player for it. He is working exceptionally hard.

“People questioned his ability to play at this level. I wasn’t one of them.”

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake can be backed at 151.00 to finish as the leading goalscorer in the Barclays Premier League this season.

The match saw 12 players handed yellow cards in what was a combative encounter between the two sides.

McCarthy said: “I’m glad we got everyone off the pitch without anyone getting sent off.

“But I’m pleased we competed in a real tough game.

“There were times when we may have lost that game last year when we were trying to chase games, being desperate to get a winner.

“If you’ve got your point, sometimes take and settle for the point and remember Newcastle are not a bad team.

“They’ve got a lot of Premier League quality in their team.”

McCarthy was disappointed that his side were not awarded a penalty early in the second half as James Perch brought down Matt Jarvis with the score at 1-0.

He said: “I wasn’t certain at the time. I didn’t know if the ref thought ‘Jarvo’ had fallen over his legs.

“But I’ve just seen it again and it was a poor, poor decision.

“We are 1-0 up and, if we score the penalty, the game is done and dusted for us. It was a real pivotal moment in the game.”

Andy Carroll’s textbook header from a Joey Barton free-kick earned Newcastle a share of the spoils after Ebanks-Blake’s clinical finish broke the deadlock. Ebanks-Blake also hit the post while Newcastle were guilty of missing several goalscoring opportunites with Carroll and Nolan failing to take advantage.

Wolves are currently on offer at 5.50 to be relegated this season.

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Wolves have completed the signing of Michael Mancienne from Chelsea on a season-long loan in what will be his third spell at the club.

Mancienne played an important role in helping Wolves gain promotion from the Championship during the 2008-09 season, and then helped them stay in the Premier League last term.

He was initially deployed as a central defender before Mick McCarthy successfully converted him to a holding midfield role.

The 22-year-old will be available for Wolves’ home Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle on Saturday.

Full Time Result betting has Wolves available at 2.40, while Newcastle can be backed at 3.10 and the draw 3.20.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy had indicated he was interested primarily in re-signing Mancienne on loan as opposed to on a permanent basis, and the England Under-21 international completed the move this morning.

In his first spell at Wolves, Mancienne made 10 appearances as a five-year spell without top flight football was ended.

His form during that period earned him a first senior call-up by England for the friendly international against Germany in Berlin when he was an unused substitute.

Mancienne also impressed McCarthy sufficiently to return last season when he made 33 appearances.

He still has three years remaining on his current deal at Chelsea.

Wolves are 5.00 to be relegated from the Premier League 2010/11.

Don’t forget, all Premier League matches are covered by the bet365 100% Euro Soccer Bonus, where you could earn a bonus of up to 100% on your returns on pre-match accumulator bets.

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Stoke City’s record signing Kenwyne Jones will have to prove his fitness to make an opening day debut against Wolves this Saturday.

The striker only joined the Potters on Wednesday, in a club record £8million deal, but manager Tony Pulis has suggested the Trinidad & Tobago star is not as fit as the rest of his squad.

Pulis will leave making his decision on Jones until the last possible moment, but also faces a dilemma in midfield with several key players missing.

The Potters are light at in the middle of the park at present, with Salif Diao opting not to sign a new deal, Liam Lawrence out with a groin strain and Glenn Whelan struggling with a calf injury. Defender Abdoulaye Faye is also a major concern with a hamstring injury collected in a recent pre-season friendly.

However, Wolves’ manager Mick McCarthy is also having injury worries with star sticker Kevin Doyle a major doubt for the clash at Molineux tomorrow.

The striker is struggling with bleeding in his calf, an injury which ruled him out of the Republic of Ireland’s friendly against Argentina on Wednesday.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is on alert to partner Steven Fletcher in attack. Fletcher will make his debut following his summer move from Burnley while left-back Jelle Van Damme will also make his bow after his arrival from Anderlecht.

Wolves are currently 2.30 to pick up an early three points, with Stoke 3.20 and the draw 3.25.

Wolves (from): Hahnemann, Foley, Craddock, Berra, Van Damme, Jarvis, Henry, Jones, Ward, Fletcher, Ebanks-Blake, Doyle, Stearman, Mujangi Bia, Edwards, Mouyokolo, Halford, Guedioura, Milijas, Keogh, Elokobi, Hill, Hennessey.

Stoke City (from): Begovic, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington, Jones, Fuller, Tuncay, Soares, Sidibe, Pugh, Faye, Collins, Wilkinson, Sorensen.

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Hearts manager Jim Jefferies hopes Republic of Ireland international Stephen Elliott will move to Tynecastle next week.

The 26-year-old striker still has some paperwork to complete with Preston before any move can take place.

But the Jambos boss is optimistic he will have Elliott in his squad by the time St Johnstone visit Tynecastle for the SPL opener next weekend.

“We’re close to Stephen Elliott,” Jefferies told the club’s official website.

“That’s a big help because if he can get the paperwork tidied up at Preston we can then sit down and try and work out the situation.

“We’re very close to getting him but it will take until next week although I’d hope to get him into the team for next week.

“Everything is done with Preston on our side but on his side things need to be sorted out. You need to go through the usual procedures.

“This lad would take a big drop (in wages) to come to Scotland. The fact he knew Kevin Kyle and played with him at Sunderland helped.

“A lot of people have recommended him including Mick McCarthy and they think he could do a great turn. Hopefully we can get it tied up.

“He is in and around the box and sharp and when Kyle gets back there would be good competition for places.”

Jefferies was impressed by 20-year-old Cameroonian Jonathan Toto during the Metz Academy youngster’s trial spell.

He said: “He has scored six goals in three games. He did some daft things in the games but I think he’s got something.

“He won’t cost a fortune. He might take a wee bit of time to get it out but there’s a bit of raw talent.

“Sometimes along the way you unearth a little gem. I think he’s got something worth working on.

“It will be up to us to get that out of him. He might turn out to be a real find.”

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has quelled rumours that he is currently looking to sign Michael Mancienne from Chelsea on a permanent basis – for the moment.

McCarthy has already brought in six new players to Molineux this summer and insists that he must look to off-load personnel before attempting to bring in any more new faces.

The versatile Mancienne, who is comfortable in defence or as a holding midfielder, has already spent two seasons on loan at Wolves. According to reports he has asked for a transfer away from Stamford Bridge and it would cost Wolves around £4million if they wished to secure his services permanently.

Despite often speaking highly of Mancienne, McCarthy expressed his view on the situation saying, “I guess people should ask their (Chelsea’s) manager Carlo Ancelotti whether we should read anything into the transfer request.

“If I was reading anything into it, I suggest he wants a transfer! But that’s the first I’ve heard about it.

“I’m not looking at signings at all at the moment.

“We need to lose some players rather than take any more in and certainly won’t do any more business unless anyone leaves.”

Mancienne, who has also been linked with Spanish clubs Malaga and Sevilla as well as Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon, initially joined up with Wolves during their 2008/09 campaign, helping them gain automatic promotion from the Championship.

Wolves are currently 3.25 to be relegated from the Premier League 2010/11 and are 1.33 not to be relegated.

Their opening Premier League fixture sees them play host to rivals Stoke. Wolves are on offer at 2.30, the draw is available at 3.25 whereas Stoke are 2.87 to take all three points.

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