AN UPBEAT Mick McCarthy remains philosophical that there is life without Kevin Doyle and believes he still has the firepower to keep Wolves sizzling.

McCarthy has already decided who will fill Doyle’s boots at Newcastle- likely to be Sylvan Ebanks-Blake – with Steven Fletcher and Stephen Ward also in the frame.

“Doyle has been terrific but it is opportunity knocks. We’re going to be without him certainly for a month, it could be for the rest of the season yet – who knows?” the boss said.

“The other strikers have had a great attitude to it.

“There is a huge different to running around, playing up front on your own doing what Doyle has done, to coming on (as a sub) but they’ve all had a real impact.

“They all want to play, they don’t like being on the bench but what’s been good is that when they’ve come on they’ve shown the right attitude and won, saved or changed games. It’s been great.”

Far from pointing fingers at the Irish FA, McCarthy accepts injuries are part of the game.