Source: Team_Talk
Cup run would do fine - McCarthy
McCarthy insisted he will field a strong side - including out-of-form striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake - in Saturday's home fourth-round clash with Crystal Palace.[LNB]He will adopt this policy just three days before the home league clash with Liverpool who will be rested up following a blank weekend after their shock exit at the hands of Reading.[LNB]New signing Geoffrey Mujangi Bia is poised to make his Wolves debut against Neil Warnock's side after joining on loan from RSC Charleroi until the end of the campaign.[LNB]McCarthy said: "I don't see the FA Cup as a distraction. I know we've got Liverpool and Hull coming up in the league but I see it as a game we need to win.[LNB]"If we win the cup-tie, we will feel a whole lot better about ourselves going into the game with Liverpool on Tuesday.[LNB]"Let me tell you, we could actually win the FA Cup. We aren't going to win the Premier League. I want to beat Palace and stay in the FA Cup.[LNB]"I've got 20 first team squad players and I'll pick whatever team I want on Saturday and whatever team I want on Tuesday - but Saturday will be a very strong team.[LNB]"Palace have been winning games again recently and Neil Warnock will have them wound up to fever pitch when they come to our place on Saturday.[LNB]"Tranmere away in the last round was very difficult and this will be a difficult tie. We need a good side out and a good performance. We will be going full tilt."[LNB]McCarthy is hoping the creativity of Mujangi will enable Wolves to improve on their dismal goal record this season - just 17 in 21 Premier League games.[LNB]He said: "We are still looking at other possible signings but I'm pleased with this one because at the moment we are not scoring enough goals and Geoffrey will give us real attacking options from either wing."[LNB]McCarthy had refused to confirm earlier in the week whether Ebanks-Blake would keep his place after drawing another blank against Wigan and being guilty of another glaring miss.[LNB]But he has now admitted the former Plymouth player, whose only top flight goal this season was a penalty against Aston Villa, will face Palace.[LNB]McCarthy said: "His confidence has not dropped but any striker is concerned when they don't score because ultimately they are judged on how many goals they score.[LNB]"He scored 25 goals last season when in the best side in the Championship and was taking half chances or even ones when he had only a 30 per cent chance of scoring.[LNB]"But this season he is not playing in the best side in the Premier League and chances have been a bit thin on the ground.[LNB]"But he will come good again. You don't lose that knack. He is playing Saturday and if he gets a goal, then great. But if he plays well, doesn't score and we win, then it's no problem."[LNB]Ebanks-Blake is likely to be partnered up front by Chris Iwelumo and the Scottish international is showing signs of regaining full sharpness after long-term knee and foot injuries.[LNB]McCarthy said: "Chris has done all right since he came back. He did okay against Manchester City and Tranmere and is getting back to his best."[LNB][LNB]
