Mick McCarthy was, perhaps surprisingly, one of the quieter operators in the Championship transfer market on deadline day.

But, as far as the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager is concerned, he had done his business by making six signings at a combined cost of more than #1million in this January window.

Having passed the six-month mark of his managerial reign at Molineux, McCarthy is confident that he has shopped well.

Wolves bounced back from their Sunday roasting by West Bromwich Albion and a first-half battering to beat Norwich City on Tuesday. To be three points off a play-off place bears testimony to the effect McCarthy has had. "A hell of a lot's happened but the goalposts are still in the same place," he said.

"Given everybody else's thoughts on and what we might or might not do back in August, I think we've done as well as anyone could have expected."

Also important has been McCarthy's awareness that his quick-fix solutions in August would not last forever. His January signings have been with one eye on the future.

"Because we haven't been in any rush this week, it seems like we haven't done any business," he said. "But ours were all set up and done, we've actually bought in more than anyone.

"Michael McIndoe and Michael Kightly were already done, we've got Darren Potter and Neill Collins signed up, too and I'm delighted with Stephen Ward. It's now a very young group of players and sometimes what we lack in experience, craft and guile, we have to make up for in bloodymindedness.

"Of course, it is a work in progress but take the average age of the side now and, although they're all good players, there's improvement to come and I'm quite excited about that."

Of all the signings, Kightly has most caught the eye but despite scoring the game's only goal to steal the points at Norwich, the young Essex man is keeping his feet on the floor.

"Everyone knows Norwich deserved it," he said. "They missed a lot of good chances but then we've been doing the same against teams recently and not getting the points. We've had games where we've battered teams like Cardiff and Stoke and we haven't won, so we'll take that."

Although McCarthy's January spending is over, he could have one new face to come in. Wolves Academy graduate Stephen Gleeson will complete a successful three-month loan spell with League Two Stockport County next week and McCarthy is expecting the young Midlander to return with serious claims for a first-team shirt.

He said: "When you're away from the mothership you can be a bit out of sight, out of mind. But we've had him watched a lot and the feeling is he's done his shift up there and now wants to come back and prove he can play. I've no doubt we'll see an improvement in him."

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