Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has refused to rule out a Premier League return for Jody Craddock.

The captain enjoyed mixed fortunes in the 2-1 friendly win over North Queensland Fury, heading home the 74th minute winner seven minutes after unluckily conceding Robbie Fowler’s debut penalty for a tackle on Jeremy Brockie.

Andy Keogh had put Wolves ahead with a second minute tap-in, after goalkeeper Paul Henderson failed to hold Greg Halford’s cross.

Turning 34 in nine days time, Craddock is the oldest player in the Wolves squad, but his consistent displays in the Championship title-winning run-in earned him a new one-year deal.

Despite signing £2.5million Ronald Zubar, taking Bobo Balde on trial and trying to take Michael Mancienne on loan, McCarthy – who has twice brought the former Sunderland man back into his plans – is prepared to give everyone a fair crack of the whip.

The manager said: “I think speculating on how any player is going to do next season is wrong, but with Jody we should all admire what he’s done.

“He’s earned a new contract and now, like 20 other players out there, it’s up to him.

“He was terrific last season after coming back and breaking his toe.

“There was a chance he could have gone out on loan before the deadline, but he came back in and was fabulous.

“The year before he’d been on loan but came back then as well, so he’s resilient to say the very least.

“He ended up coming in, captaining the team last season and was terrific.”

Craddock has proved he can come back before in the face of stiff competition, having already seen off transfer-listed trio Neill Collins, Jason Shackell and Darren Ward, while Rob Edwards was sold to Blackpool last summer.

But he is facing his toughest test yet to nail down a first team place.

With a decision on Balde still probably a week or so away, much is expected of Zubar, while Christophe Berra and Richard Stearman – as well as the hoped-for arrival of Mancienne – are all expected to block Craddock’s way.

While the veteran was looking to impress, it was the turn of the new boys to take the plaudits.

Nenad Milijas looks to be every inch a top performer.

The Serbian playmaker’s range of passing, quickness of thought and feet as well as movement mark him down as a potentially huge player for Wolves in the Premier League.

Milijas tested Henderson with a 30-yard drive that forced the keeper into a falling save, while the former Red Star midfielder also set up George Friend for a cross, when he might have had a go himself with Henderson off his line.

His replacement, the similarly left-footed Andrew Surman, set up Craddock’s winner with a fine delivery from a corner and also looked neat tidy, while Halford’s tenacity and ability suggests he will compete well for Michael Kightly’s right wing berth.

Halford set up Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for a disallowed effort and the Championship’s 25-goal top scorer hit the post, while another centre from the utility man saw Sam Vokes slot just wide.

The encouraging performance from his players led McCarthy to believe Wolves pitched things just right for the game.

He wanted a more competitive edge from his squad and so avoided training them on the day of the game, as he had done in Friday’s 1-0 win against Perth Glory.

The manager was rewarded with a sharper, higher-tempo display.

He said: “I told them I wanted them to get about the pitch and work a bit harder, which they did.

“It was a really good workout – the games have been just competitive enough.

“The teams we played were very similar, but they were very competitive, as you’d expect because they were playing Premier League opposition.

“Richard Stearman talked about the runs Robbie Fowler was making. If you can’t make runs after the career he’s had, there must be something wrong.

“If he can stay fit he’ll be a really good player for them.

“He’s been a huge star of the Premier League and when he was fully fit and flying in his pomp, there weren’t many better finishers than him at all – he’s a fabulous footballer.”