Mick McCarthy has backed Wolves talisman Neill Collins and Co to cope without Michael Mancienne and insists signing another centre-half is not a priority this month.

Mancienne has returned to Chelsea where boss Luis Felipe Scolari says the 20-year-old won’t be allowed back out on loan again this season – despite keeping the youngster on the bench in Saturday’s 1-1 FA Cup draw against Southend.

McCarthy’s Championship leaders conceded eight goals in the 10 games Mancienne played as opposed to 18 in the 10 before he arrived, although they took the same number of points (21).

But Wolves boss doesn’t believe losing the England under-21 means he’s seeking a replacement – and the club have dismissed reports they want Leyton Orient’s former Albion reserve Tamika Mkandawire.

“No, not at all,” said McCarthy. “The fact people were in front of the others didn’t make them bad players – they were still available to me.

“Neill and Jason Shackell were different class against Swansea when they played together.

“And Neill has proved all along that he’s very capable.

“I’ve got no worries at all. Check the results before Michael Mancienne came – we lost three out of four but before that we won seven on the bounce. Michael came in on the back of those defeats and he’s been terrific, but the others are good players.

“I took Mancienne because of how good he is and because he was available at that time.

“I don’t think I have to justify that at all. Sometimes it pushes other people’s noses out of joint, but as upsetting as it is, we want to win games. If it gave the team and the club a better chance of winning games, that’s all that matters.

“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with anyone else. I thought Richard Stearman and Mancienne would be a very good partnership and I’ve been proved right.”

One defender who will remaining out on loan is Academy stopper Lee Collins, who has had his deal at League Two Port Vale extended.

Meanwhile Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has challenged Wolves to make 2009 a special year.

The 22-year-old striker, who celebrated his first anniversary at Molineux this week, has netted 15 goals this term to help Wolves to a seven-point lead.

“There’s still work to be done this season and we’re very aware of that,” he said. “I’ve had a really good year and now we’re into another new year let’s hope we can be just as successful.”