Jarvis backed for England U21 bow

Matt Jarvis has been backed to join Wolves winger Michael Kightly in the England U21 team by club boss Mick McCarthy.

Jarvis was a revelation for Wolves in Saturday's 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday, celebrating his first taste of action this season by winning the penalty that put his side ahead, after earlier forcing a fine save with a smart header.

The 22-year-old is eligible for duty with Stuart Pearce's side, because he was under-age when the UEFA Championships qualifiers started.

Kightly is poised to win his fourth cap under Pearce in the friendly against Slovenia at Hull's KC Stadium and McCarthy believes Jarvis has the creditinals to join him.

He said: "Being 21 in the year of the tournament, he could play. For the players personally, it's wonderful to be involved in international football.

"Wouldn't it be a real feather in Jarvo's cap if he got selected? If they are involved, that would be fine by me."

Kightly is one of five players McCarthy temporarily waved goodbye to after the weekend. Welsh trio Wayne Hennessey, Dave Edwards and Sam Vokes are in action for Wales under-21s's crucial qualifier against Romania at Wrexham, while Andy Keogh is in the full Republic of Ireland squad to face Norway.

As a former international captain and manager with the Irish himself, McCarthy knows all about the pride in representing your country.

Now as a club manager, he has mixed feelings because of the risk of injury, but is confident his players will look after themselves properly.

He said: "Five players are away but there's nothing I can do about it. I don't worry about things I can't effect.

"They are all good lads who will do everything correct, in terms of the preparation for their game and looking after themselves coming back here.

"I'm not worried about it. Sam Vokes and Dave Edwards both might be grateful of a full game, while Wayne Hennessey has also gone with the Wales U21's.

"We've got 'Kights' playing and Andy Keogh is away with Ireland. Whatever part 'Kights' plays, he's got Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to recover.

"But they're playing international football. As someone who has played and managed at that level, it's terrific. It's lovely to be involved. Wouldn't all the clubs like to have five international players going away?

"I'd love to have five players good enough to play international football, but you don't want them going away playing international football! Let them go, and if they come back injured, I won't be happy about it but I'll play someone else."

Edwards is relishing the chance of some early high profile international action.

Victory for Wales will see them top their group and go through to a play-off, in their bid to qualify for the UEFA Championships finals for the first time in 50 years.

He said: "Romania have done very well but we definitely have the quality and surely one of the best under-21 teams Wales have ever had."

McCarthy is just hoping to have a fully-fit squad to work with, in the countdown to Saturday's Championship trip to Ipswich.

He said: "They're all back on Thursday and Friday. It doesn't bother me at all and whingeing about it gets you nowhere.

"All you're doing is laying the foundation for an excuse on Saturday if we get beat and I'm not like that. I never have been and I never will be."