Matt Jarvis told to force England bow

Wolves winger Matt Jarvis has been told to 'force the issue' to grab a future England chance by continuing his sizzling club form.

Molineux boss Mick McCarthy was philosophical over Jarvis' exclusion from Fabio Capello's 23-man squad for tomorrow's friendly against France at Wembley.

But the manager believes the 24-year-old, who has been watched five times by the England coach this season, can still force his way into the national team.

McCarthy said: "Matt has just got to carry on playing the way he is.

"Why not enjoy a wonderful career with Wolves and play as well as he is, keep ripping up the Premier League against all the full-backs he's playing against and just see where that takes him?

"All he's got to do is keep playing and he can force the issue with his performances."

McCarthy believes Jarvis, who cost just £600,000 from Gillingham in June 2007, matches any of his Wolves signings in terms of value for money, and admitted he felt for the 24-year-old after he was left out.

The manager said: "He's up there with Michael Kightly, Karl Henry and Kevin Foley as the best value signing - they've all been great.

"I felt a little sad for him, especially after he'd been named in the provisional squad.

"And he couldn't have played any better for us on Saturday - he created loads.

"But they've got Stewart Downing, Ashley Young, Adam Johnson and Theo Walcott, so he's competing against some good players.

"Selfishly, it suits me fine. I wanted him to be in the squad because he deserves his chance - he's been brilliant.

"But with us going to Blackpool on Saturday, it wouldn't do us any good if he had another 40, 50 or 60 minutes tomorrow night."

Jarvis' snub means his next potential chance won't come until March, when England take on Wales in their Euro 2012 qualifier.

McCarthy said: "Maybe Capello thinks - and I understand it - that if he had to play one of the contenders in the next qualifier, it wouldn't be Matt Jarvis.

"It might be Young, Downing, Walcott or Johnson and they're in front of him.

"So, he's maybe better off giving them a game to get them better versed into how he wants them to play, than maybe someone who isn't going to be involved in the next competitive international."

But McCarthy denied Jarvis had been snubbed because he isn't playing for more fashionable club.

The Wolves boss added: "I don't know. But Jay Bothroyd is in and he's playing for Cardiff."