Wolves striker plays down rift rumour

Oct 15 2007 By Paul Berry, Birmingham Mail

WOLVES striker Freddy Eastwood today moved to deny any suggestions of a rift between him Mick McCarthy, insisting the only problem he wants to give his manager is by scoring enough goals to make it impossible to leave him out.

Eastwood, Wolves' top scorer, hasn't started any of the last four games since a disappointing display against Hull and failed to make an impression as a second half substitute against Coventry.

That sparked suggestions of a falling out between the £1.5million summer signing and his manager, despite McCarthy insisting it was purely to do with his current preference for the partnership of Andy Keogh and Stephen Elliott.

Eastwood, who came through a subdued 58 minutes for Wales in their 3-1 defeat to Cyprus on Saturday, has now spoken for the first time about recent events and has backed up McCarthy's explanation.

"It's been a tough time," Eastwood did acknowledge. "I started well and was scoring goals for Wolves and Wales but after the last international break the manager wanted to use some fresh legs.

"The guys came in and did well so I had to bite my tongue. He's said since he prefers the two in the side at the moment as a partnership.

"People have tried to make out that me and the gaffer have fallen out but there has been no row or anything like that.

"The fact is he has tried something different and I don't think I can go into his office, start moaning and saying I should start.

"He's suggested I could work harder on the defensive side of my game and I've taken what he said on board.

"I could have said I've been scoring goals but I didn't because I want to learn from him and know he is only telling me for the right reasons.

"I know he can only leave me out for so long if I keep scoring and if I can do that with Wales I can give him a problem."

Eastwood, like McCarthy, has also ruled out any suggestion his police caution following an incident in a Basildon nightclub has played any part in his omission.

"That was nothing to do with it and was just something where I got picked out that dragged on longer than it should have," he added.

"The club and manager were both happy with me over that."