The games do not get any easier for Wolves, who play host to Sunderland in the Premier League this weekend.
McCarthy welcomes former club to Molineux on Saturday
The games do not get any easier for Wolverhampton Wanderers, who play host to Sunderland in the Premier League this weekend.
Wolves were left with their tail between their legs last time out as Blackpool inflicted a fourth straight defeat on Mick McCarthy's side to leave them 19th in the table and five points from safety.
The former Republic of Ireland tactician has seen his team play well in recent weeks, but has watched the Midlanders go a goal down within the first five minutes in each of their last three matches.
And the Wanderers chief is desperate for his team to avoid another early setback when his former club come to town.
McCarthy's Wolves are the only team in the division yet to keep a clean sheet and he has defensive worries ahead of Sunderland's visit to Molineux.
Defender Steven Mouyokolo is struggling with a back injury and is rated as
50/50 for the match but McCarthy is hopeful that Kevin Foley, who injured his
knee in training, and Steven Fletcher, who has a virus, will be fit to play.
Jody Craddock (thigh) is absent while Christoph Berra misses out through suspension but Ronald Zubar comes back into the squad after recovering from an ankle injury.
Skipper Karl Henry is another player who is unavailable and the combative midfielder is sidelined until the New Year with a knee compliant. He joins long-term absentee Adlene Guedioura (broken leg) on the treatment table.
David Edwards would be McCarthy's first-choice replacement for Henry, but the Wales international is out with a thigh problem so Nenad Milijas is likely to partner on-loan Michael Mancienne in the engine room.
The injuries in midfield could see McCarthy revert to two up front with Sylvain Ebanks-Blake pushing for a starting slot.
Black Cats news
Sunderland, meanwhile, head to Wolves with confidence high after banishing the memory of last month's mauling by fierce rivals Newcastle United to go seventh in the table.
Since the 5-1 defeat, which is their only away blemish in their last six, the Wearsiders have gone four games unbeaten - including the famous 3-0 win over champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Some feared that the Black Cats would suffer a lull in their next fixture against Everton, but they claimed a 2-2 draw on Monday in a game where they fought back from a goal down to lead before the Toffees snatched a late equaliser.
Steve Bruce's side have now played all of last season's top 10 and have avoided defeat in each of those games and the Black Cats boss will be keen to start an easier run of fixtures with a win in the Midlands.
Bruce faces a selection dilemma when it comes to naming his front-line for Saturday's trip to the Black Country.
Asamoah Gyan made the Black Cats boss' decision easier last time out after picking up a thigh injury in training.
But the record signing is fit this time around, meaning star striker Darren Bent and Monday's scorer Danny Welbeck face stiff competition for a starting berth.
Bruce has different selection problems at the other end of the pitch, with both first-choice centre-halves out for the rest of the year.
Titus Bramble is to undergo knee surgery and is not expected to return until the New Year, while Michael Turner joins his defensive partner on the sidelines and could face three months out after damaging knee ligaments.
Anton Ferdinand started in Bramble's absence against Everton and he is set to be partnered by John Mensah, who is back in full training after recovering from a shoulder injury.
Fraizer Campbell (knee) and David Meyler (hamstring) are Sunderland's other long-term casualties.
Possible starting XIs:
Wolves: Hahnemann, Elokobi, Zubar, Stearman, Foley, Hunt, Mancienne, Milijas, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Doyle.
Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Mensah, Ferdinand, Onuoha, Richardson, Cattermole, Zenden, Henderson, Welbeck, Bent.
