Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is angry over the timing of this week's international round.

"From their (international managers') point of view, it's really useful, but from a league manager's point of view, to lose players who are not coming back on Thursday prior to the first game of the season, it's a pain in the butt," said McCarthy.

As a former manager of the Republic of Ireland, McCarthy has some sympathy for the national coaches trying to prepare their players for vital World Cup qualifiers four weeks later in September.

"I've been an international manager, but I don't think we ever had a game before the start of the season, although I might be wrong," he told the Express & Star.

"Of course it's a useful exercise for the international managers, if I've got that cap on. They've got qualifying games three or four weeks later and it gives them a chance to have a look and see what players they've got."