Mick McCarthy admits Wolves striker Kevin Doyle will have enjoyed an extra "spring in his step" after captaining his country for the first time against South Africa on Tuesday night.

But the Wolves boss believes it will all be forgotten tomorrow, when the club record signing aims to get off the mark for the Molineux men in the Barclays Premier League clash at Blackburn.

Kevin has enjoyed an impressive international break with the Republic of Ireland, preceding the captaincy for Tuesday's friendly by notching the first goal in the 2-1 qualifying win over Cyprus at the weekend.

"It's great for Kevin to have captained his country and I shook his hand and congratulated him," said Mick, of course one of his precedessors with the armband for Ireland.

"I saw what he said about it which I thought was lovely, about how it might have been a friendly but that didn't matter.

"Whether you're captain of your country for one game or 100 games, it doesn't matter because it's such a great honour.

"Kevin's a really top professional footballer and this will have given him a real spring in his step.

"He probably won't be thinking about it too much now and in relation to tomorrow's game but it will have been a nice feeling.

"The goal in Cyprus will probably have given him more of a boost, and just having another two games and feeling better about himself after his injury.

"He's certainly getting closer to his full potential as his match fitness comes back and he'll be looking to improve again tomorrow."