Wolves striker Stefan Maierhofer will play from the start in tonight's FA Cup tie with Tranmere Rovers.
The 6ft 8in Austrian has started just one game since his £1.8million move from Rapid Vienna in August - and that was the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United when McCarthy picked his second string.
But the 27-year-old is likely to start at Tranmere this evening, and aims to show McCarthy he can still help in the fight for Premier League survival.
Maierhofer, an inch taller than Peter Crouch, scored on his debut at Blackburn in September, but admits he has found the pace of the game in England hard to adapt to.
He said: "English football is much harder and faster than I have been used to, and also the training is much more intense.
"But it would be sad if I didn't believe I could win a starting role in every team. I know my qualities.
"I am trying to give my best in every training session and then it is up to the manager to decide."