Boss Mick McCarthy today backed loan striker Marcus Bent to make an impact at Molineux believing he can still cause plenty of problems for top flight defences.

Bent checked in last week on a four-month loan with Wolves and made his first appearance playing the first 66 minutes of yesterday's behind-closed-doors friendly victory over Burton Albion.

The 32-year-old has swelled Wolves' senior striking department to four, with the boss believing he can provide a different option to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher.

"Marcus will add something to the squad," said Mick.

"He's only 32 and had a real tough time with his hamstring last year.

"But whenever he's played against any of my teams he's been a real handful.

"He's big, quick, powerful and I remember when he played against us here with Cameron Jerome against Mance (Michael Mancienne) and Stears (Richard Stearman) he didn't half rough us up.

"He caused us problems by his presence and all the qualities that he has are the things defenders don't like playing against.

"He's quick, good in the air, he backs into people and he's got a goal in him."

And the boss believes Bent has still got a hunger which will push him on and help provide that extra competition for the striking places.

"Nobody is a shoe-in any more up front are they?" he added.

"Everyone anticipated it would be Fletcher and Doyler but Sylvan started off, scored his couple of goals and played out of his skin.

"And now we've got Marcus in as well who will give us more competition for places.

"He's done well in training and did all the fitness testing before he came and had a good medical - he's in good shape.

"He's hungry to do it as well which is great and I'm really looking forward to working with him.

"The instant I asked if he wanted to come he was like 'yes, fantastic' and that was good enough for me."