Former Wolves chief Graham Taylor has identified experience as the missing piece in Mick McCarthy’s survival jigsaw puzzle – but warned against them signing Premier League has-beens.

Taylor, who suffered play-off heartache as Molineux manager in 1995, believes Wolves’ battle to stay afloat will need the addition of some old heads to accompany the young legs of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Michael Kightly, Matt Jarvis and company.

But he insists the club need to be wary of signing big-name players already past their sell-by-date.

Taylor said: “The squad is a little bit young. He needs to bring some experience in to get a balance. But it’s no good bringing experience in if their legs have gone.

“You have to be very careful. Bob Paisley, who was my managerial hero, once said to me: ‘Graham, always make sure your players’ legs go on another manager’s pitch.’

“What he meant by that was make sure you sell the player when he is still OK, but you know in six months’ time he will be nothing. There’s an art to that.”