Wolves boss Mick McCarthy insists Matt Jarvis is back to his best after a bright showing at Manchester United.

Jarvis’ display was one of the bright spots of the 4-1 setback at Old Trafford, as Wolves were caught by the full force of United’s Champions League backlash.

The 25-year-old winger celebrated his 150th appearance for Wolves and 250th League outing of his career to produce arguably his best performance of the season and set up Steven Fletcher’s sixth goal of the campaign.

It comes after Jarvis’ struggle to find the form that brought him an England cap in March but McCarthy believes he could be back to his best.

He said: “Jarvis was excellent all afternoon. He put in a fantastic performance and showed everybody he’s back to his best now.

“The difference is we only got one goal from his outstanding performance and United got four off theirs.”

McCarthy has sympathy for Jarvis and reckon it’s impossible for anyone to be at their best every game.

The Wolves boss said: “There’s talk about Manchester United not having the best of form all the time.

“I just wonder why Jarvis – who’s done wonderfully well since coming from Gillingham for £600,000 to get in the England team with us – should just be able to do it week in and week out?

“And that’s with a team which sometimes can’t get the ball to him as often as possible. I wonder what damage he would do if he was playing for Manchester United or Manchester City?

“I don’t see why he should be expected to be the star man every week playing in a team scrapping about in the bottom half of the league.

“It can be so difficult every week when he puts in such a shift but he was back at his best on Saturday, which was lovely to see.”

McCarthy feels the criticism of teams or individuals is taken out of context – including Jarvis.

The manager added: “I feel people sometimes take delight in the demise of players or clubs.

“Two weeks ago it was Chelsea – and now they’ve got through to the Champions League knockout stages.

“Now it’s Manchester United this week, or it has been Matt Jarvis.”