McCarthy hails Hennessey attitude

3rd December 2008

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has praised goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey for the way he has grasped his recent first-team opportunity with both hands.

The Wales international started this season as the club`s number one but a loss of form and impressive showings by understudy Carl Ikeme saw him drop to the bench - sparking talk of a January move.

Hennessey was handed an opportunity to shine against Sheffield United last week after a hip injury forced Ikeme off, and he has not disappointed against the Blades and promotion rivals Birmingham at the weekend.

McCarthy told the club`s official website: "Unfortunately, footballers, journalists, supporters, pundits and probably managers and players think there`s something wrong when someone is not in the team. That`s often not the case. There might have been a reason he was out of the side at the time and there was - I don`t think he`d been as good.

"But I didn`t say he was a bad goalkeeper or a bad lad and I didn`t say I didn`t like him. The status quo with all those things remains the same.

"He`s got back in the team but now he has to earn the right to stay in the team. I thought he performed terrifically well on Saturday."