Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has spoken of his admiration for City skipper Grant Holt in his rise up the English football ladder.

Holt, playing in League Two for Shrewsbury 2� years ago, scored his 60th goal for the Canaries at Everton on Saturday, his seventh of the Premier League season.

“He’s been excellent. He’s made the most of his opportunity and I love players like that,” said McCarthy.

“I’ve got enough of them myself in the team who have come from humble beginnings and they get an opportunity to shine and they do it.

“Generally it’s through their determination, doggedness and bloody mindedness that wants to make them a player and they get better. I’ve nothing but admiration for him.”

McCarthy said Wolves had no special plans to combat the aerial threat of Holt and Steve Morison tonight, however, with 10 of City’s 25 league goals this season coming from headers.

“They’ve got two threats in Steve Morison and Grant Holt,” he said.

“But I really don’t think they’re any bigger an aerial threat than Robert Huth, Ryan Shawcross, Peter Crouch, Jonathan Walters, Marc Wilson et al. It’s down to the quality of crosses they put in.

“They’re flying and doing really well, but we don’t just suddenly think ‘Let’s defend crosses’.

“We don’t fluctuate from one week to the other and just because a couple of lads can head it, get panicky and practise it.

“It’s something we’ve been doing as centre-backs.

“We take into account everything about the team we’re playing against, but no special attention.”

City winger Elliott Bennett is, like team-mate Andrew Surman, returning to his former club tonight.

Bennett left Molineux for Brighton in 2009 after just two Carling Cup appearances for Wolves.

“He moved on and really good luck to him because he’s another one who worked hard at his game,” said McCarthy.

“But at the time when we sold him, it was time for him to go and ply his trade elsewhere and get some games.

“He was a long way behind Michael Kightly and Matt Jarvis, who we had at the time.

“So good luck to him – he’s a lovely kid and I’m delighted for him.

“If people want to see it as a rejection then fine, but we sold him for a decent fee actually, and he’s gone on and done well.

“That was what was ringing in his ears from us when he left, but if people want to write it as a rejection, then I can’t do anything about that.”