Spy mission "waste of time"

Calderwood possibly agreed as he left after an hour, realising the Wolves side his Forest outfit will try to stop will bear little resemblance to the one on duty.

McCarthy is confident of a much improved display after what was the first setback of the season.

He said: "We didn't play well enough to win the game, but we didn't play bad enough to lose it. They just took their penalties better than us, that's all.

"But we didn't have that threat, that bit of zip or whatever it requires to unlock a defence that was well set up and defended really well.

"The penalties made the big difference and I am not concerned about the performance level."

While Calderwood has been watching Wolves, then so Forest have been under an extensive Molineux microscope.

McCarthy said: "Terry Connor watched them on Wednesday and was impressed.

"I saw them play Reading earlier on in the season and Taff (Ian Evans) saw them last Saturday. We know they're a good side."

Strikers Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Chris Iwelumo will return to spearhead the attack, while Sam Vokes should be available again as back-up.

He missed the chance to start at Rotherham, because of a training ground injury but he should be fit to make the bench today.

Helping to supply the front men again will be Matt Jarvis, while Andy Keogh, who is still waiting to get his season up and running and came off at half-time against Rotherham because of a stomach upset, should be fit to sit on the bench.