Wolves midfielder David Jones believes the squad support cast are ready to accept Mick McCarthy’s challenge to keep the season on the boil in the Carling Cup.

A Molineux Carling Cup tie against League One Swindon tonight is not exactly high on the club’s list of priorities this season.

But boss Mick McCarthy knows – if for no other reason than they have suffered at this stage so many times before – that these early season cup ties are enormously problematical.

And with the manager studying every move to assess the challenge to the men in possession of the shirts for Premier League selection, Jones is getting himself focused on an important game for himself and his colleagues.

The midfielder said: “It will be nice to get a start under my belt. I feel sharp and have been training well and feel fit again after my injury.

“It’s a chance to get some minutes out there, try and impress the gaffer and help the team into the next round.

“The injury has been disappointing, but we’ve only had the first week of the season and there’s still such a long way to go.

“I’m sure if I do well in training and in the games I play there will be opportunities that come along. The main thing is I’m feeling fine now and – if I can kick on and keep showing what I can do – I can take that opportunity when it does arise.

“It’s an opportunity for all of us who get a game to try and put something in the gaffer’s mind ahead of Hull, which is the last league game before the international break.

“You never know but a good performance from someone tonight could help them get in the team for Saturday. The way to do it though is as a team.

“We need a victory and a strong performance as a team, then individual performances can shine through that.”

McCarthy has been delighted with the early signs his players have shown of responding positively to the Premier League challenge and not being over-awed by it.

He watched George Elokobi come bounding on to the pitch at Manchester City on Saturday and take to the game as if he had played at that level all his life.

The manager said: “Quite a few of them have shown that ability to step up to the next level. I said to Stephen Ward just before we left the dressing room on Saturday ‘Are you looking forward to this Wardy?’ He said “I was playing for Bohemians two years ago gaffer’ and it’s right.

“They have come a long way. We haven’t seen Michael Kightly at this level yet but he is another and George was fantastic for his 45 minutes on Saturday. It was testament to all the hard work he put in getting over that injury, because all his ligaments in the one knee were damaged.”

Jones has watched it all and been equally impressed – having experienced that nightmare season with an unprepared Derby three seasons ago.

You suspect he does not detect similar signs at Molineux.

The 24-year-old said: “We’ve looked bright in the games so far and have dealt with the tests that have come our way,. Hopefully that will help us settle in the Premier League.

“I was pleased to be able to come on and play a part for the last half-hour against Wigan. It’s sometimes difficult to come into a game like that, but I enjoyed my first taste of Premier League football this season.

“It was a big night for the club as well, with it being the first away win in the top division for many years.

“It was a great result and gives us confidence that we can go to places in the Premier League and come away with a win.”

Swindon under Danny Wilson are guaranteed to present a footballing challenge which Jones is likely to relish.

He added: “I don’t think Wolves have been too successful in progressing in the last few seasons, but you want to do well in any competition you play in.

“Swindon will come and make sure it’s not easy for us, so we can’t afford to be complacent.”