Wolves boss knows how to defend Carew

By Mat Kendrick on Oct 23, 09 10:04 PM

MICK McCarthy might have been raving about Richard Dunne in the run up to this weekend's Wolves-Villa derby.

But it's Dunne's claret and blue colleague John Carew who McCarthy has particular admiration for as I found during a impassioned lecture from the Molineux manager early last season.

Idly passing time chatting at Wolves' Compton training base, myself and a fellow hack were discussing the merits of Carew.

Not knowing back then that the Norwegian battering ram would go on to top Villa's scoring charts with his highest season's goals tally, I was bemoaning Carew's failure to be the prolific frontman Martin O'Neill was crying out for.

Now the moral of the story is to be careful about entering into pub-style football tittle tattle when McCarthy is in earshot.

As soon as he heard me whinge that Carew would never be a 20-goal a season striker, the former Ireland boss jumped down my throat and accused me of over-looking the player's vast array of qualities.....strength, touch, awareness, aerial threat, deceptive speed, ability to bring others into play, shooting ability, etc etc etc.

If I'd been brave enough I might have told Big Mick to mind his own business and stop butting in on private conversations, but so gushing was he in his praise of Carew - and so intimidating is the brash Yorkshireman - that it was impossible not to listen - and agree with him.

Needless to say Carew has subsequently completely won me over - even without McCarthy fighting his corner - with his presence on the pitch and his bright and breezy and approachable and articulate manner away from it.

But when the travelling Villa fans heap affection on their hero at the home of the Dingles, there will be a secret admirer in the home dugout hoping and praying he doesn't score one or two.