Wolves’ injury-hit winger Michael Kightly must prove his fitness by the end of January to play any part this season.

Kightly, sidelined for almost a year, is recovering from another operation on his injured knee and is hoping to be added to Wolves’ plans for the second half of the season.

McCarthy can make changes to his 25-man Premier League squad during the January transfer window.

But the Molineux boss has hinted strongly that he will not add Kightly to the group unless he is fit by the end of the window, even if there is hope of him recovering later in the season.

McCarthy said: “Kights has had his operation and is very positive about it.

“It was on one of his knees and he goes back to see the surgeon in six weeks time.

“He’s only had keyhole surgery, which is not as intrusive. He’s not out for the season, not at all, but he’ll have to be fit for January 31 to get into the squad for us.

“There’s always the opportunity to go on loan somewhere else after that but I want him playing for me because he’s a very good player.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy welcomes Karl Henry back into his plans today admitting the “dangerous play” row had harmed his team’s Premier League campaign. Wolves captain and McCarthy lieutenant Henry has completed a three-match ban for the red card challenge on Wigan’s Jordi Gomez earlier this month.

That brought to a head the row about dangerous play which pitched Wolves as one of the prime culprits in a debate focusing on over-physical tackling.

The issue has since begun to fade from the game’s agenda of hot topics — although not before Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey took a fresh blast at Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger this week — and McCarthy admits he is relieved.

Favours

But he hinted the damage may already have been done as he said: “I’m delighted Karl is available for selection again. He’s an important player for us.

“I think the whole issue has died down in the media, although I’ve got to say that it has had an effect.

“I go to games now and the crowd are roaring for a foul or booking at every challenge. It’s changing the way the game is played.

“And I’ve got to say it did us no favours. It’s hard enough winning games in the Premier League without being scrutinised by everyone about everything.

“It doesn’t help when that critical spotlight is being put on the team.”

Wolves have not won in the Premier League since the opening day of the season and McCarthy feels his still comparatively inexperienced squad were both unsettled and distracted by the media-fuelled debate.

He added: “I’m not going to say the bookings were all unfair — some were, not all.

“But we also played some really good football.”