Mick McCarthy has reflected on Wolves’ Australia training camp and revealed: “The players are flying”.

The manager’s bullish message came as the squad touched down in Birmingham after their 13-day pre-season trip to Perth.

Wolves returned with a 100 per cent record having beaten Perth Glory 1-0 and Robbie Fowler’s North Queensland Fury 2-1.

McCarthy has also warmly recommended a trip Down Under, where Wolves have trained at the impressive WACA. But his main concern is the levels of fitness and preparation of his players and he admits they return home in top shape.

“For the stage they’re at in pre-season, they’re flying,” said McCarthy.

“There are a few aching limbs as you’d expect, but they’re in good form and shape. It’s not a question of trying to rein them in – I’ve let them loose because they want to train and play.

“For example, I thought the way they went about the football session on a few of the nights after doing running and weights earlier in the day was admirable. I know exactly what session to put on after they’ve been feeling stiff and tired and they responded to it which was great.”

After getting speed and stamina into the players’ legs, McCarthy is now looking to hone tactical preparations in the countdown to the start of the Premier League kick-off against West Ham on August 15.

“We’ve been looked after wonderfully well but we haven’t been training on a full size pitch,” added the boss.

“Now we’re back we can work a bit more on the distance between them (players) and tactics.

“The trip was all about team-building and team bonding and fitness and it’s been a wonderful trip for all of that.”

The Wolves party have made a huge impression on the Aussie public and won many friends, including Glory general manager Paul Zissis, who has been invited to Molineux to shadow chief executive Jez Moxey later in the season.

On the pitch, Michael Kightly (foot) and Dave Jones (knee) are unlikely to be risked in Tuesday’s first English friendly at Walsall.

Chris Iwelumo returns to Compton tomorrow to start rehabilitation on his broken bone in his foot.