Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has revealed he tried to sign Sunderland’s man of the moment Danny Welbeck back in the summer.

Welbeck turned 20 today with all eyes on the on-loan Manchester United youngster, after his double for the Black Cats in Monday’s 2-2 draw against Everton.

That made it three goals in two games for the six-footer after his strike in the Wearsiders’ shock 3-0 win at Chelsea.

McCarthy pursued Welbeck in the summer, but with £7million Steven Fletcher in the bag and £6.5million Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake already on board, couldn’t guarantee him regular football.

The Wolves boss said: “Yes, we were interested in Danny Welbeck but Steve Bruce had ‘bagsyed’ him from Man United.”

The news came as McCarthy urged Kevin Doyle to lift Molineux with a goal spree after getting off the mark.

Doyle netted his first Premier League strike of the season in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Blackpool after 12 games without a goal.

And as the Republic of Ireland international prepares to take on Sunderland – who he scored his only Wolves penalty against last season – McCarthy claimed the striker has had a big weight lifted off his shoulders.

He said: “It’s a huge thing for him to have got his goal. The longer it went on, the harder it got so I’m delighted for him.

“That was a real plus-point on Saturday. He’s a good striker who has been playing very well.

“He can add goals now which makes a big difference.”

McCarthy is confident Doyle can be a threat but acknowledged the threat of his former club, who have lost just once on the road this term and surprised Chelsea last time out.

He said: “Sunderland murdered them, they were great.

“I took the hump when everyone said Chelsea played badly because I thought Sunderland were great.

“They’re a good side with good players. It was all doom and gloom after they lost 5-1 at Newcastle, but they have been doing great since.”

McCarthy has called on Wolves to continue their current performances.

He said: “We’ve played well; we have to maintain that level of performance. If we do then we’ve every chance of beating Sunderland.

“If we don’t there’s every chance we’ll get punished.”

McCarthy also called for patience from the fans.

He said: “There’s one thing about my team that nobody can ever question and that’s the effort and the work-rate they put in.

“So I expect good support and I hope we get it.”