Wolves have strength to stay in the Carling hunt, says Doyle

(PA)

Kevin Doyle believes Wolves are capable of achieving Carling Cup glory after breaking his scoring duck with a match-changing contribution against Notts County on Tuesday.

Doyle came off the bench at the start of extra time to score twice and set up another goal for Steven Fletcher in a 4-2 home win which secured a place in the last 16.

The Republic Of Ireland striker, Wolves' top scorer last season with nine goals, feels Mick McCarthy's side have the strength in depth to aim for more than just Premier League survival. Doyle said: "Lots of teams change their teams in the Carling Cup. We changed our team but, if you get through the next round, all of a sudden you are very far in the competition. Lots of big teams have been knocked out already. It is an opportunity for us to maybe go far. We are only a few games from Wembley.

"It all depends how we are playing in the league. If we are playing well, then the cups are an added bonus. We've a bigger and stronger squad and everyone wants to play, so being in the cup keeps people playing games as well. There are 25 very good people in our squad. That is why the team was changed so much. It gives lads the chance to show what they can do."

But Doyle was honest enough to admit that Wolves had been fortunate to overcome their League One opponents, who led for much of the second period thanks to the former West Bromwich striker Lee Hughes. Nenad Milijas equalised from the home side with a penalty with seven minutes remaining to take the game to extra time.

Doyle said: "Those games are never easy. It could have gone either way and they are the ones that deserved it. They worked hard, created some chances, put some great balls into the box. We were lucky to get it to extra time. They had a man sent off, we had fresh legs and then we got a few goals but even then they could have taken it to penalties just before we got the fourth goal. It was heart-in-the-mouth stuff."

Doyle is firmly established as Wolves' No 1 striker but is refusing to set any personal goal targets for the current campaign. "No matter how you are playing as a striker, it is nice to break your duck for the season," he said. "Personally I think I did it for Ireland a few weeks ago. I was happy with that one as well. We've plenty of competition so it is nice to pitch in with a couple of important ones. No matter what you do, that is what you are judged on at the end of the year."