Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is backing Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake to fire the team to Barclays Premier League safety this season.

Previous injury problems mean the pair will start together for the only third time on Saturday at Stoke. But McCarthy has no doubt they will provide the goals Wolves need to stay in the top flight.

Ebanks-Blake is fully fit after straining his hamstring on the opening day of the season against West Ham and McCarthy said: "We know what Sylvan's attributes are. When he gets chances, Sylvan puts the ball in the net.

"He has been clinical since he came here. Unfortunately for him, and for us, he has not had the chance to be starting every week this season. It has been stop-start for Sylvan so far this season - but since we signed him, he has been our talisman and is the one who has scored the goals."

McCarthy splashed out £6.5million to sign Doyle from Reading during the summer - and already believes it is money well spent.

Doyle has scored three goals so far this season and McCarthy added: "I knew what I was getting when I signed him. He has been everything I thought he would be - and he is a great lad. `Doyler' is a good footballer - and the fans have taken to him as well, because he plays well and scores goals. He is such a likeable character and anyone who has spoken to him will know that."