Davies didn't fulfil potential

Mick McCarthy admits he only ever saw "glimpses" of Mark Davies' potential after the one-time Wolves wonderkid sealed his move to Bolton.

But the Wolves boss insists he was powerless to prevent the 20-year-old midfielder leaving Molineux.

Davies signed a four-and-a-half year deal at the Reebok for an undisclosed fee, that it is believed could net Wolves £2million.

The eventual fee for Davies may make him the third most expensive export from the Wolves homegrown ranks after Keane at £6million and Joleon Lescott at £5million.

But unlike the other two deals, Wolves have secured a hefty sell-on clause. The former England youth captain was widely recognised as one of the best players in the country in his age group .

Yet he has been sidelined for much of McCarthy's two and a half years in charge

The manager said: "I've seen glimpses of his ability – I think Oldham in the FA Cup replay (January 2007) was the last time he really contributed to the first team play.

"I let him go out on loan to get some games. But players decide where they want to be in the end. We wanted to keep Mark and we offered him a contract.

"It's one of those unfortunate things – Mark's not been fit for two years, so we let him go out on loan to get fit. He's now produced some displays."