Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has revealed how the signing of Southampton midfielder Andrew Surman is the culmination of three years of scouting work.

The 22-year-old has sealed his £1.2milliom move from Saints to become Wolves’ fourth summer signing.

In denying benefitting from Southampton’s crippling financial problems, boss McCarthy explained how his latest signing was the result of reams of reconassiance.

The manager said: “Someone asked me if we were benefitting from someone’s problems and I understand how it might be seen that way.

“But that’s not the case. I saw him play in a friendly for Southampton against Cheltenham three years ago when I came to Wolves.

“I marked him down then so we’ve followed him, tracked him and finally we’ve been able to sign him.

“I wasn’t in a position to sign him three years ago – in July 2006, I’d have had no chance of signing him, so that was a non-starter.

“The really good scouts, which we’ve got, will mark players down in their notes and remember what they’ve seen.

“He was one that caught my eye – in fact he caught everyone’s eye when he got into the team.”

McCarthy believes Surman’s versatility – the former England under-21 international can play anywhere across midfield and left-back – will only help him in his quest for first team football.

The Wolves boss added: “He’s versatile and we’ve got a few of those.  He can play wide left and certainly centrally left whether it be in a two or a three, and he’s played left back.

“He’ll give us so many options.”