Wolves in dock over selection

SOCCER:MICK McCARTHY'S controversial team selection at Manchester United could rebound further on Wolverhampton Wanderers after the Premier League raised the possibility of charging the club with fielding a weakened side at Old Trafford and not "acting in good faith to other clubs".

McCarthy was pilloried by Wolves supporters on Tuesday night for making 10 outfield changes to the team that won at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, chanting “£42 to watch the reserves” and “Where is our first team?” as United strolled to a 3-0 victory.

Despite taking no action against United when Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes at Hull City on the final day of last season, 10 days before the Champions League final and for a game they won, the Premier League has written to Wolves for an explanation of McCarthy’s selection.

Wolves have seven days to respond and, according to a Premier League statement: “Once the observations are received the Board will decide whether any further action is warranted.”

Should the board decide that Wolves’ contravened rule 20, section E (“In every league match each participating club shall field a full-strength team”) or rule 13, section B (“acting in good faith to other clubs and the league”) the matter will then be referred to an independent disciplinary commission.

The Premier League has the authority to deduct points from Wolves, although such a harsh measure appears unlikely. Given that McCarthy’s starting XI at Old Trafford had all featured in the Wolves first-team this season, and included six internationals, it could be difficult for the Premier League to disprove the manager’s defence that: “I said I would play my best team and that was the fittest, strongest team I could pick.”

The club’s chief executive, Jez Moxey, has also backed his manager’s selection while announcing those supporters who felt short-changed at Old Trafford will not be entitled to a refund. “We have a squad system at the club and Mick picked what he thought was the best side for that match,” said Moxey.

Meanwhile, Ferguson looks set to turn to the Belgian youngster Ritchie de Laet for Saturday’s visit to Fulham as Manchester United’s defensive problems continue to mount up. Having ruled out John O’Shea and Jonny Evans until January, and with Gary Neville joining Rio Ferdinand on the injured list with an unspecified date for his return, the United manager was hoping Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown would stay fit to see them through the festive period.

Instead, Brown is out for a fortnight with a hamstring injury, while the stand-in captain, Vidic, strained his calf in Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Although the injury might not be as serious as first feared, Vidic still looks doubtful, meaning De Laet could be paired with Michael Carrick at centre-back.