One Team In Ireland : Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is resigned to losing star striker Kevin Doyle if one of the Premier League's big guns come in for him at the end of the season.
The £6.5million signing from Reading has impressed McCarthy with his all-round play, despite only scoring six goals this season.
McCarthy has deployed the Ireland international as a lone striker in a revamped 4-5-1 formation that has reaped rewards in recent weeks, with a 1-0 win over Tottenham and a point against Liverpool, which have lifted Wolves out of the relegation zone.
McCarthy said: "I'd hate to put a value on Kevin. He is a very, very good Premier League player.
"He is playing for a team scrapping at the bottom, he has scored his six goals, he has caused everyone he has played against problems.
"He started off with a hernia when he came here so he got off to a slow start, missed games, then came back and wasn't fully fit.
"But since he has got fit, he has proved to be the player he was two or three years ago in the Premier League when he scored 12-14 goals."
When asked if Doyle could become a target for clubs this summer, McCarthy admitted: "Look, when someone plays well, that goes with the territory.
"I never lose any sleep about anything like that, because I can't do anything about it.
"It doesn't concern me at all. Doyley came here and is loving it and, if we stay up, we are a Premier League club and he would still be loving it.
"But if someone like a Manchester United come in and ask and offer, it is bloody hard work then isn't it?"
McCarthy is unsurprised Doyle has made such an effective switch from operating in a 4-4-2 formation to his current role as the sole forward player.
He said: "Kevin is relishing it. He has played the role before. He has a very good understanding of it. He loves it. He is up against two centre-halves, occupies them for most of the game.
"I think he has got better. I thought he was a top-drawer signing or I wouldn't have paid what I paid for him when I went out and did it."
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