Boss was a big pull for Stearman

Oct 10 2008

CENTRE-half Richard Stearman has admitted he is benefiting bigtime from the advice of an erstwhile archexponent of his position – Mick McCarthy.

Stearman has started strongly at Wolves since joining from Leicester in the summer. And he admits that part of the pull to Molineux was the chance to tap into McCarthy’s knowledge of the centre-back role.

“The gaffer was a big factor in me signing,” Stearman said. “He was a central defender and played at the highest level so there is so much I can learn from him.

“I never saw him play but I’m told he was pretty uncompromising!

“It’s great to have his advice but, throughout my career, I have been lucky enough to work under coaches and managers who were defenders themselves.

“I was always a centrehalf coming through the Leicester academy. Then I was picked at right-back and was played all over the place for a while but I prefer it in the centre. And the gaffer here made it clear that is where he saw my role.

“I got a lot of games under my belt at Leicester and learned a lot there and I’ll always be grateful for that. But this move felt right as soon as it was suggested. It’s great that there are so many young players here and the older hands really want to help you and give you advice.”