Wolves boss Mick McCarthy admits he has no say on whether Nenad Milijas can be spared a gruelling trip to South Africa three days before the start of the season.

The Serbian captain – who skippered the side in last night’s 1-0 defeat to MK Dons – has been called up for the friendly in Pretoria on August 12, less than 72 hours before the Premier League curtain-raiser against West Ham.

Milijas hoped the Wolves boss would try to persuade national coach Raddy Antic to look at his predicament sympathetically, but McCarthy says he has no sway on the club versus country tug o’ war.

The manager said: “He’s been called up so we’ll see what transpires.

“He’s in the same boat as everyone else going away – Kevin Foley, Andy Keogh and Kevin Doyle if he’s fit, Christophe Berra, Wayne Hennessey, Sam Vokes and Dave Edwards – except it’s a longer flight.

“I was a national team coach and I picked my team, so I will let the Serbia coach Raddy Antic deal with that.

“There’s nothing I can do to influence that – he knows what his team is and who his best players are.

“He might see the South Africa friendly as preparation with their qualifier against France the next month.”

Milijas is faced with a week away from what’s left of Wolves’ squad decimated by international call-ups in the days counting down to the start of the season.

He also has a 12-hour return flight to contend with, which sees him not back in England until the day before the West Ham game – his Premier League debut.