Jody Craddock gets Wolves captaincy

Jody Craddock was today hailed as Wolves' best defender as boss Mick McCarthy rewarded him with the captaincy against West Ham in nine days' time.

The evergreen veteran will reclaim the armband from the suspended Karl Henry for the crucial clash against the Hammers, as the team try to stop the rot after four straight defeats.

And McCarthy believes the 35-year-old has more than earned the right to lead the team out for the first time since April 11.

He said: "Jody has been our best defender. He really is fantastic. He'll be playing against West Ham and he'll have the captain's armband."

Remarkably, Craddock has improved on 2009-10, a fact acknowledged by McCarthy.

He said: "Jody has playing even better this season.

"If you can maintain your fitness, you get better because you get cuter, more clever and smarter.

"He's great - it's not his game to pass it from the back, but he's bought into that as well."

McCarthy denied Craddock is playing better because he is chasing another 12-month contract.

The manager said: "No, that's the way he is. It's too soon for that, but we'll see.

"He's been a credit to himself, and the club, just in the way he looks after himself.

"His performances have been outstanding."

Craddock's form almost certainly means fit-again £2.5million summer signing Steven Mouyokolo will remain on the sidelines.

McCarthy will also decide if Kevin Doyle's fitness will allow him to face West Ham when the striker returns from international duty.

He said: "The Republic of Ireland play Russia tomorrow and Slovakia away on Tuesday.

"If he plays 90 minutes there and flies for four hours on Wednesday and feels as tired as last time, I will take a view on it when he comes back."

But McCarthy hailed Doyle as Wolves' best at playing the lone role up front after resuming his lonely battle in the defeat at Wigan.

The Wolves boss said: "Doyle was brilliant on Saturday – he was something else playing on his own - he was great.

"He gets to play the role because he's the best we've got at playing on his own up front.

"That's why someone else has to play wide."