Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has paid tribute to his ‘support cast’ and wounded warriors.

McCarthy’s depleted and patched-up side showed immense character to come back from 2-1 down to beat Sunderland 3-2 on Saturday.

Wolves were without three recent captains — Karl Henry (knee), Jody Craddock (hip) and the suspended Christophe Berra, while Dave Edwards (thigh), Adlene Guedioura (broken leg) Steven Mouyokolo (back) were also injured, and unused substitute Steven Fletcher had missed training with a bug.

Skipper-for-the-day Kevin Foley played with a heavy strapping to his right knee after missing training for most of the week when he hurt ligaments.

And Ronald Zubar played after just 67 minutes’ action in the reserves after six weeks out following ankle surgery, George Elokobi started at centre-back for the first time in the Premier League and keeper Wayne Hennessey was playing his first league game in a year.

“I told Kevin at training on Tuesday that he was going to be captain and then after 10 minutes he blocked a ball and injured his knee and his ligament was sore until Friday,” said McCarthy.

“He was blamed for the first goal at Blackpool and I took him off after 29 minutes.But it was a ridiculous punishment for just missing a high, flighted ball 40 yards from goal out wide.

“It’s like looking left and right before you cross the road and then a building falls on your head.

“He’s probably been our most consistent player and he captained the team, scored a fabulous goal and produced an all-round great performance. I was delighted for Kev.”

McCarthy added: “Everyone contributed to a good Saturday for us.

“George is a good defender and I thought he had an outstanding game.

“He plays centre-half in training and I was never worried about him because he’s such a good competitor.

“He was playing against good players as well. In Danny Welbeck, Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan, Sunderland have good centre forwards who are in form.

“He had a great game, as did all the others who came in, because we had to mix and match in positions they don’t necessarily play in.

“And what about Zubar coming back — they were all brilliant. I thought Wayne had a really good game and Zubar showed what a terrific player he is.”

McCarthy admitted he would not have wanted anyone else to have been on the end of the chance despatched by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for the winner.

“He’s as good a finisher as we’ve got,” said the boss. “I know the question will be ‘why doesn’t he start?’ but, if we play with one up front, Kevin Doyle is the best at it. And I thought he was terrific.”

McCarthy was happy to take the credit for his substitutions which saw replacements Stephen Hunt and Ebanks-Blake score after coming on for David Jones and Michael Mancienne respectively.

“That’s why substitutes are there on the bench. They’re not there warming their backsides on those nice Recaro seats,” he said. “They’re there to come on and win the game or save the game or do something, and thankfully Sylvan did it.

“It was a fabulous strike from Sylvan and that’s what he’s all about — I’m delighted for him.

“Maybe if the subs don’t come off then it’s me who’s the numpty! Such is life.”

McCarthy revealed his emotions went through the roof during the five-goal thriller.

“Emotions to go from one extreme to another so many times in a game,” he said.

“It would have been interesting to see the heart rate monitors because my ticker was going up and down like a fiddler’s elbow.

“I’m not so sure it’s good for the body with that disparity of emotions and the highs and lows.” But the Molineux chief was convinced Wolves’ luck was going to turn after Kieran Richardson’s first-half free-kick hit the inside of the post and rolled to safety.

“I said it had to turn for us and it has,” he said.

“When Richardson’s free-kick hit the inside of the post and came out, I said ‘we’ll win this’.

“We had a bit of a break which is what I thought all along. It couldn’t keep going wrong for us, not when we’ve been playing as well as we have and maintained the good spirit and feel around the place.”

And McCarthy insisted he felt no extra pressure, despite speculation surrounding his future approaching the game.

“People who come to the training ground know there hasn’t been a feeling of pressure hanging about the place and I don’t get involved in all that,” he said.