McCarthy: Doyle staying where he is

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has backed Kevin Doyle to recapture his best form after insisting the striker is “going nowhere” before the transfer window closes tonight.

McCarthy believes the Republic of Ireland international should take heart from Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in recovering from dips in fortune with Manchester United and Arsenal respectively and coming back stronger than ever.

Doyle has lost his place to Steven Fletcher and has been linked with a move to Everton.

But McCarthy, whose side face Liverpool at Molineux tonight, said: “Whether there are legs or not in Everton’s interest, Kevin is not going anywhere.

“I’d be crackers to sell Doyle with two days left of the transfer window. Guess what, I’m not crackers!

“You can’t be the best player all the time. Wayne Rooney had a dip in form, had knocks and niggles, Robin van Persie went out and came back and now he is flying again. It just happens and you have to get over it by continuing to do what you do when you were flying and it comes back — and will do for Kevin.”

McCarthy admits he has been bemused by the number of rumours linking him with players during the past month, while midfielder Stephen Hunt is reported to be a Celtic target.

He said: “There are rumours going everywhere. Hunt and Doyle are supposedly going and I’m supposed to be signing Clyne (a full-back). That will be a ready-made replacement for those two!

“I honestly doubt that there will be anything happening here at all, comings and goings.”

McCarthy revealed he rejected Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish’s enquiry about moving the game back 24 hours because of the transfer window. He said: “I know Liverpool wanted to play the game on the Wednesday and asked me about it and I said ‘no chance’.

“We are going down to QPR on Saturday so why would I play a day later? I want as much time to prepare for both games but I could understand Liverpool’s request.

“Kenny just asked me because they might be doing something (in the transfer market) and I understood it — but he understood my reasons for not changing.”

McCarthy and his players went paintballing during their 10-day break from action but not far from his mind has been trying to find a solution to end a run of 10 games without a win.

He said: “The paintballing day wasn’t about digging deep to find good team spirit because that is there. That was a day off from training because we hadn’t got a game at the weekend, a break from the norm.

“But we are digging deep trying to do something about the results. If we weren’t, there would be something wrong.’’

Dalglish, meanwhile, has tried to put an end to speculation about striker Andy Carroll’s future after stressing there will be no movement in or out of the club in the current window.

The Reds’ £35m record signing has become the focal point of much speculation after enduring a difficult first year at Anfield.

Having been linked with a highly unlikely cut-price return to Newcastle, reports emerged at the weekend claiming Manchester City had turned down an offer to swap Carroll for their want-away striker Carlos Tevez.

Dalglish, a staunch defender of Carroll, refused to comment on speculation but categorically stated there would be no late activity at Anfield.

“There is no-one going in or out of the club before the transfer window [closes],” said the Reds boss.

“I don’t read the papers so I don’t know [about speculation] but we have covered what we have to say.

“We don’t need to justify what people are speculating about, do we?’’

Tonight’s trip to Molineux is a big test for Liverpool.

While they may have beaten the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City this season, Liverpool have lost league games to Stoke, Fulham and Bolton and drawn against Norwich, Swansea, Blackburn, Wigan and Sunderland.

After publicly criticising his players in their last Barclays Premier League outing at Bolton, the 60-year-old does not think he needs to read the riot act before Wolves.

“I don’t think we need any warnings. We have always gone in and played against any opposition and treated them with respect,” he said.

“There are no lesser teams for us. The only lesser teams are the ones we have just played.’’