BIRMINGHAM (DF) -- Deep in the midst of an all-out battle for Premier League survival, Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy now believes his Wolves side have the upper hand and that a first England cap for Matt Jarvis will be enough to save his club from Premier League relegation this season.
Jarvis was given his full England debut by Fabio Capello on Tuesday evening, replacing Jack Wilshere in the 69th minute of the 1-1 draw against Ghana at Wembley Stadium. Despite spending most of his time on the pitch defending without the ball, the exciting young winger showed glimpses of his fine club form and gave reason for Capello to consider him in future England squads.
"How many clubs have gone down with a regular England international in their side?" asked Wolves' Irish boss McCarthy after the game. "I don't know the number exactly, but I don't think it's ever happened. I've been begging for it all season, and now that Matty has his first full cap, we're not going to go down."
"You don't see sides like Chelsea and Manchester City going down and they're chock-full of England internationals," continued the former Republic of Ireland manager. "Now that we have one at our club, we're going to stay in the Premier League. It's a lift for everyone involved because results won't matter. Come the end of the season, we'll be where we deserve to be."
Dr. Jack Cavendish, a Professor of Football Statistical Analysis at the University of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton supporter, took issue with the Wolves manager's frame of reference. Cavendish claimed, rightly or wrongly, that the number of regular England internationals at a club has absolutely no bearing on the club's relegation chances.
"I don't quite understand his logic or his reading of history," said the renowned Dr. Cavendish. "Portsmouth were relegated just last season with David James in their side and he was a regular England squad member at the time of their relegation. He even played at the World Cup as part of a relegated side."
"To me, Kevin Doyle being ruled out for the rest of the season will have a greater impact on Wolves' survival chances than Matt Jarvis's first cap, but I am just a scholar and I do only study the game for a living. I guess anything is possible through Irish eyes."
