Mick McCarthy claims he did select his first team for the clash with Manchester United last week despite making ten changes from the side that won at Tottenham the previous weekend. McCarthy has been asked to provide an explanation for the team he picked at United by the Premier League, although he has already stated that he wanted to protect his players from injury.

The Wolves manager has now defended his selection by highlighting the qualities of those who took to the pitch.

"I played Ronald Zubar, who cost £2million from Marseille and played in the Champions League," he told the Birmingham Mail.

"I played George Elokobi, who has had 200 league games, Matty Hill, who has had 350 league games, and Michael Mancienne, who we actually couldn't buy from Chelsea because he is so good."

McCarthy continued that his team also included: "An American international in Marcus Hahnemann, Greg Halford was £2million from Sunderland, an Ecuadorian international who plays every time in Segundo Castillo, Kevin Foley, who is our Player of the Year, George Friend, who has been on loan at Scunthorpe, an Austrian international up front in Stefan Maierhofer and we had Andrew Surman, who was about £1.5million from Southampton.

"So I played a first team. I had lads who couldn't play, so there is my explanation. Put it all down in writing.

"I maximised my resources at Wolves Football Club. I am sad we lost at Old Trafford but we won on Sunday and have got nine out of 12 points."

McCarthy was criticised by many of the Wolves fans who made the trip to Manchester and he insists he did not wish to make them unhappy.

"I care what they think about me," he said.

"I do care what they think of my decisions but I would hope they know I make them in the best interests of them, the club and the city because that is what I do.

"They all went away happy on Sunday and I am delighted that they were singing my name because it could have been oh so different."