Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today admitted he asked “too much” of George Elokobi in expecting the defender to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

Left-back Elokobi was replaced by Richard Stearman for Saturday’s defeat against Arsenal after playing in nine Premier League games.

The 23-year-old was pitched in to the top flight after nine months out with cruciate knee ligament reconstruction and struggled in recent matches.

Ironically, Elokobi scored after two minutes in an excellent performance playing centre-back for the reserves in a 2-0 win against Birmingham last night.

But McCarthy said the Cameroon-born defender needed a break.

“We’ve probably asked too much of George,” he said. “He came back from nine months out and Stephen Ward got injured after one game, so he played eight Premier League matches. It was a bit much for him.

“I was having a discussion with the surgeon who operated on him and he said the fact he’s back playing now is remarkable. Very often it takes another season because you’re never 100 per cent straight away and yet George has been brilliant, fantastic.”

McCarthy confirmed Elokobi needed to be taken out of the firing line.

“He wasn’t taken out to see how he reacts to being out of the team, but to give him a break,” he said. “It’s been unfortunate – we lost Ward and Matt Hill has been injured as well – but I’ve been delighted with George for lots of things.

“He gives his all and he defends really well, but it’s just that little 10 per cent that you can’t get back straight away that he’s looking for. But the only way you get it back is by playing.”

McCarthy confirmed in later editions of yesterday’s Express & Star that Stephen Ward is expected to return to training after the international break.

And although he acknowledged how well Stearman performed in the position, the Molineux chief wants a naturally left-footed player at left-back.

“It’s important because it helps the balance of the team, but I thought Stearman did very well,” he added.

“Stearman was arguably one of our best players before he got injured.

“In the interim, we’ve got George and Stears.”