Sylvan out of England U21 squad

The 22-year-old has become the latest Wolves player to succumb to the stomach bug that ruled out Jason Shackell from Saturday's defeat at Coventry, while Christophe Berra has also been affected.

Ebanks-Blake has been forced to withdraw from the under-21s squad that faces Ecuador in Malaga.

McCarthy said: "Sylvan's out of the (under-21s) squad – he's got a bit of sickness and diarrhoea. It's been going around the players."

McCarthy reckons he's relieved Ebanks-Blake's spot-kick miss against the Sky Blues happened to his 20-goal leading scorer, because the fans will forgive him.

Wolves fans booed Ebanks-Blake's strike partner Andy Keogh in the last home game against Norwich after he missed chances.

McCarthy took time out to see how Ebanks-Blake had reacted to the incident after keeper Keiren Westwood saved his injury-time penalty - and believes it won't affect him.

The Wolves boss said: "Sylvan's fine. He's scored 20 goals. I'm glad it was Sylvan because they (fans) will all forgive him. The fans will all forgive him and will still sing their Sylvan Ebanks-Blake song.

"If it had been anybody else who missed it, it might have been a different ball game. He was in bits with it but he'll be fine. He's a goalscorer. If he misses one chance he comes back and scores another one.

"I've spoken to him to see how he is at both ends with his head and his bottom! I was more concerned about him with the bug but he's fine."

Wolves also face an anxious wait to see the extent of goalkeeper Carl Ikeme's back injury.

McCarthy said: "Carl's going to be out for a few weeks with his lower back. He has had another scan, so we'll know the results later."

Ikeme has been out of action for exactly a month. His last first-team appearance was in the home defeat to Preston North End on January 10.

Wolves are also without another goalkeeper, Matt Murray, who is out for the season with a knee injury.