Mick McCarthy insists Wolves man Kevin Foley should have pipped Sheffield United’s Kyle Naughton to the PFA Championship Team of the Year’s right-back spot.

England under-21 international Naughton was selected by his peers in the league XI this week.

But Molineux boss McCarthy believes Foley should have got the nod ahead of the Blades defender for his consistency to join fellow Wolves men Richard Stearman, Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in the PFA side.

“All three thoroughly deserved it and I thought Kevin Foley could have been in there as well,” said McCarthy.

“Kyle Naughton’s a good player and he’s done well this season, but I thought Foles would have been in there because he’s been top, top drawer.”

Foley has missed just one Championship game this season and is a firm contender for the club’s Player of the Year award, to be announced at the club’s awards dinner at Telford International Centre tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, McCarthy was full of admiration for his nominated trio, who were all his signings.

And he revealed he had had to remind Stearman of his contribution as the former Leicester defender has failed to start the last 12 games.

“Stearman has dropped out of the team recently because at the time I needed to change things and it worked out,” said McCarthy.

“It’s strange for the players who haven’t been involved – they don’t tend to feel great, but I’ve been at pains to say to people like Stears that they’ve still had a great season. If they’ve played 15 games, not played for 10 and then come in for another 15 and they’re playing now, they’d feel a lot better.

“They might feel they’ve missed out, but they haven’t – they’ve all contributed.”

McCarthy, who was voted in the PFA divisional teams on numerous occasions, added: “It does give you a big boost to be nominated by your peers.”