Stearman back at centre-half
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has scrapped his experiment of using Richard Stearman at right-back.
Stearman has deputised for Kevin Foley in the recent games against Blackpool and Preston. The plan received mixed results, with two of Preston's goals coming from that side of the pitch via Ross Wallace crosses.
The England under-21 defender has played much of his football at right-back for previous club Leicester, but McCarthy believes the 21-year-old is the club's best centre-half. He reckons Wolves lose too much from central defence if he takes him out of that position.
Instead, Dave Edwards played right-back during Tuesday's 2-0 FA Cup at Birmingham and did well, while Foley returned for the clash at Bristol City.
McCarthy said: "I want our full-backs to use the ball and we like to attack, with full-backs and wingers. Stears can do it, but we end up losing arguably our best centre-half this season which isn't something I want to do.
"There were one or two who tried to tell me Stearman was a right-back when I signed him. I know he played for a long time for Leicester, but he's a centre-back. He was a centre-back growing up through the England youth teams.
"The fact he got into Leicester's team at 17 at right-back was maybe because he wasn't as big or as powerful as you need to be in this league. He grew into it and can play there, but he's a better centre-half."
