Mick McCarthy not concerned if Manchester United use weakened line-up

John Curtis,Pa
Thursday 12 May 2011 16:13 BST
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Ferguson could be tempted to rest players ahead of the Champions League final
Ferguson could be tempted to rest players ahead of the Champions League final (AP)

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Wolves boss Mick McCarthy insists he will have "no axe to grind" should Sir Alex Ferguson field a much changed Manchester United side for the Barclays Premier League finale against Blackpool.

United could clinch the title against Blackburn on Saturday which would leave Ferguson the option of resting key players against the relegated-threatened Seasiders before the Champions League final.

The United chief has done the same against West Ham and Hull on the final day of previous league campaigns and it could impact on Wolves' own battle for top flight survival.

Wolves were handed a suspended fine after fielding a changed side at Old Trafford last season and Blackpool were fined during the current campaign for a similar action away to Aston Villa.

But McCarthy said: "I'm not bothered. I can't do anything about it. United beat Schalke in the Champions League with a weakened team. They slapped four past them.

"I don't know if Manchester United have got a weak team to be honest. It doesn't bother me.

"I doubt very much Alex will want to lose any games at home. Sorry, what a stupid statement. I know he won't want to lose any games at home.

"They are unbeaten and he won't want that to change. He will, I am sure, play a team that will win the game.

"I can't do anything about it. If anyone is thinking I've got an axe to grind about it, no I haven't. I've no axe to grind.

"You pick your team as you seem fit."

McCarthy knows any such matters will be irrelevant if Wolves gain positive results against Sunderland and Blackburn in their final two matches.

He said: "We need to win our games, we need to get our points, and if we get our points, there is nobody or nothing that can do anything about it.

"Let me concentrate on that and not be worried what Wigan, West Ham, Birmingham and all the others are doing.

"If we get our points, they can do just as they please and it's not going to bother me one iota.

"I'm not going to stick my nose in anyone else's business because if ever they stick it in mine they generally get a short sharp one in return."

Striker Kevin Doyle is back in the squad after eight weeks out with knee ligament damage.

But McCarthy is refusing to say whether the Republic of Ireland player will return to the starting line-up.

He said: "Doyley is back, he is training, he is fine.

"But in terms of whether he plays or not, I'm not going to put any meat on the bones at all. You can speculate all you like."

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