Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's point to prove

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy believes striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is ready to prove last season was a one-off.

The £7million arrival of Steven Fletcher in addition to the challenge of nine-goal top scorer Kevin Doyle has helped re-focus the Championship Golden Boot winner after he scored just twice in the Premier League last term.

Ebanks-Blake has shunned interviews to do his talking on the pitch and responded with a superb goal in the 4-0 friendly win at Walsall.

But it's his willingness to adapt and play wide right when Wolves have gone with three up front that has also impressed McCarthy.

And McCarthy believes the 24-year-old is determined to prove last season was not the real deal for a striker who scored 47 goals in the previous two campaigns.

"He had a bit of a lean one last year but he's come back and looks bang at it," said McCarthy. "Sylvan has stood out like a sore thumb as someone who is champing at the bit to play.

"I don't think the arrival of Fletcher does any harm when it comes to Sylvan doing what he's done.

"But I'm not sure it's down to Fletcher, Doyle or anybody - Sylvan has come back with a terrific attitude.

"We went to 4-3-3 for the last 20 minutes at Charleroi because they were playing around us and we were getting overrun.

"In the past we might have said 'Sylvan, do this' and he'd have done it but not as readily.

"But he was great at wide right and stopped their lads playing. It was nice to see that adaptability and versatility and willingness to do it selflessly. He's been terrific since he came back.

"He won't score as many as he did in the Championship - nobody will. But he's been a really top player for us."

McCarthy wants to play 4-4-2 more this season after mainly deploying a 4-5-1 formation in the second half of the last campaign.

And the manager believes Ebanks-Blake, who started his career coming through the ranks at Manchester United will get scoring opportunities.

"We ended up being one up front last season so as not to get beat but if you play two up front there's more chance," he said.

"He played up front and wide when he went on against Portsmouth and he did well.

"The fans love him anyway but I could also see at Walsall how they really took to him.

"They want him to do well."