The signing of highly-rated winger Carlos Edwards proves that Wolverhampton Wanderers mean business as they chase promotion to the Premier League, manager Mick McCarthy believes.
The Wolves boss wasted no time in snapping up the 29-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international on a three-month loan from Sunderland after current wingers Matt Jarvis and Michael Kightly both picked up hamstring injuries during Tuesday night’s 3-0 defeat to Reading at Molineux.
McCarthy believes the former Luton Town winger will make a big impact at Wanderers.
“I was at the game at Villa Park on Thursday night and the other scouts there were saying ‘Carlos Edwards - what a great signing’,” McCarthy said. “It doesn’t necessarily bother me what other people think - well when it’s negative anyway - but when it’s positive I quite like it!
“I think it does send out a message that we mean business.
“I’d pre-empted it a little bit because when we lost Kights and Jarvo last season we were a different side. I’d been ringing around asking a few questions about wide players beforehand but never thought I’d lose two in one night.
“I knew the availability of certain players and it was great that we could get it done and that Sunderland were willing to loan him to us.
“I know I have signed a proper player. He will fit in well here because he has great quality, he works hard and gets on with all the lads. He is a good player and can play on either flank.”
Kightly, who could be out for between three to four weeks because of his hamstring strain, and Jarvis, who has torn his hamstring and will be out for between eight to ten weeks, are not the only injury problems McCarthy faces.
Wolves have already lost captain Jody Craddock and defender George Elokobi to long term injuries, and now have further doubts over strikers Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Stephen Ward and Andy Keogh.
Keogh has bruising to his lower back, while Ward has a rib injury and Ebanks-Blake is recovering from a bang to his knee. McCarthy will give the trio as much time as possible to recover.
Meanwhile, winger Daniel Jones has signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2010.
