McNash diaries: Wolves on tour

Football fans are always convinced they can do better than the players they pay to watch.

But it's not until you see them training that you realise just how good they are.

It's not just their fitness or skill, but their power and strength, accuracy with the ball – along with pace and sheer intensity.

It might have only been a nondescript pitch in the shadow of the grim Grangemouth skyline, but it could have been the new Wembley for the Wolves players, such was their effort during yesterday's two-hour afternoon session.

This is where the real graft is done, although it was impossible to single out anyone as everyone tried so hard. There was a cracking battle in midfield between Karl Henry, David Jones and Mark Davies.

Davies was polished and classy, while Jones and Henry virtually had a wrestling match for the ball.

For those interested in the dynamic of McCarthy and his coaching staff, it was interesting to see Terry Connor take the early part of the session, before the manager took over what became the main focus of a condensed game – crossing from wide areas and finishing.

The wide men were Michael Kightly and George Elokobi for one team, with Kevin Foley and Daniel Jones for the other.

Chris Iwelumo scored two, with Sam Vokes netting one at the other end, in an 11-a-side match which saw Dave Edwards watch from the sidelines with a slight knee injury.

Rob Edwards, injured by a block tackle at Chasetown on Friday, was the only absentee.

In his day, Wolves fitness coach Tony Daley was an electric winger for Villa and England, winning seven caps for his country.

Wolves fans may struggle to recall too many flashes of such brilliance, given Daley's cruel run of injuries which blighted his four years at Molineux.

Few of his most ardent fans would have seen too much evidence of his ball juggling skills. On the windswept training pitches, a dormant talent was revealed.

To 'Dales' as he is affectionately known by the squad, it was merely a more extravagant take on keepy-uppy, at the end of a two-hour training session.

To the layman, the former pacy wide man's flicks – using only the outside of his feet to continually flick the ball over his head, and all off the ground – were like watching a modern-day Coca Cola kid.

Kights beware – the fitness coach is after your place!

When it comes to food, be careful of what comes in parcels, we discovered. That was the motto as our elusive search for healthy food continued in Grangemouth.

'Mozzarella parcels' was what Express & Star photographer Gavin Dickson ordered for his starter.

On closer investigation, it turned out the mozzarella parcels were in fact, small pieces of deep fried cheese on toast.