Sunday will decide Mick's legacy

Mick McCarthy faces Judgement Day on Sunday when he steps out before his public for the first time since Tuesday night's episode at Old Trafford,

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The clash against Burnley will give us the first indication of just how seriously offended Wolves fans were by the manager's decision to protect his White Hart Lane winners from the rigours of chasing after Manchester United in a match which his side were unlikely to win regardless of which personnel he selected.

When all the furore has died down, when the Premier League have accepted Molineux's explanation, when the match has faded into the distance, it is how McCarthy's standing in the eyes of Wolves fans has been affected which will be the key legacy of the whole episode.

But the Molineux boss will at least be comforted by the wide-ranging support for his decision from his managerial contemporaries, with Nottingham Forest's Billy Davies, Stoke's Tony Pulis and Hull Phil Brown all speaking out in his favour.

Even Molineux legends Ron Flowers, Steve Bull and Kenny Hibbitt have refused to condemn McCarthy, insisting his decision was understandable - but there had to be a dissenting voice somewhere.

The Premier League's "international credibility" has been compromised, claimed Arsenal's Arsene Wenger, who pointedly added that his team would now be competing "with Manchester United over 37 games instead of 38."

Hmmm. Would this be the same Arsene Wenger who pioneered rotation, railed against the three-matches-in-a-week schedule so familiar to English football and only a fortnight ago made 11 changes to his starting line-up for Arsenal's final Champions League group game with Olympiakos? The same Wenger who showed no remorse or respect that night for Standard Liege who, because of the Gunners' 1-0 defeat in Greece, lost any chance of qualifying for the lucrative second round? I think so.

P.S. Whatever else Burnley bring to Molineux on Sunday, they will surely include one of the game's most admirable professionals. Skipper Graham Alexander has just scored his 100th league goal (in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal). His penalty against the Gunners was his 19th successful spot-kick in a row, while the indestructible 38-year-old – and this bit may be considered pertinent by the anti-McCarthy lobby – he has been on the pitch for all but 46 minutes of Burnley's Premier League campaign so far this season. Impressive stuff.

P.P.S. What's the betting McCarthy makes another 10 changes for this match –