Pulis is embarking on his third season in the top flight with Stoke and McCarthy admires the way the Potters have established themselves among English football's elite. It is an achievement McCarthy is keen to emulate with Wolves, who defied the doubters last season to finish 15th on their return to the top flight. "I think what Stoke have done is brilliant. Tony is a pal of mine and I just think he has done a great job by getting them promoted and then keeping them up," said McCarthy ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash at Molineux. "Like myself, Tony has a fairly pragmatic approach. It is all about getting the points. "They are not everyone's cup of tea but they keep rubbing people's noses in it and I love him for it. I think he is great. He has made them very hard to beat. "He has had two successful seasons and will be looking to improve in the third." Certainly the arrival of Kenwyne Jones at the Britannia Stadium in a club-record £8million deal was a statement of intent by Pulis, and McCarthy expects the new man to be a useful addition. "They have spent their money wisely and signing Kenwyne Jones will make them a better team," he added. Despite Wolves' impressive finish last season, and McCarthy's £18million outlay on new players this summer, Wolves are still tipped by many as relegation fodder this term. McCarthy admits he will be happy wherever his side finishes - so long it is the right side of the relegation line. He added: "Could we get into the top 10? We would have to have one hell of a season and if we ended up with that we would all be cock-a-hoop. "If we got 15th we would be as well because the league is going to be just as tough and competitive. So I want better than 17th, I want better than 15th and we will be trying to get it. "But come on, if we ended up 15th, 16th or 17th and stayed in the league, people would take it as everyone says about the second season being tougher than the first." McCarthy is aware that to improve on last season Wolves must become more prolific in front of goal. They scored just 32 goals in the league last term and McCarthy has reacted by drafting in £7million striker Steven Fletcher from Burnley to compliment Kevin Doyle, Sylvan-Ebanks Blake and Andy Keogh in attack. "We are all excited about another season," McCarthy continued. "We have had a good pre-season and the mood is good but we know that it will be hard again. "If we can score more than 32 goals it would be a real improvement and a good starting point. "But not conceding them is just as important. Teams scored more than us last season and went down. "It is all about being solid and not being beaten. But we weren't boring and negative last season. We played some really good stuff and missed some chances. "We have to work just as hard and scrap for everything and not give up anything easily and then we will be okay." Doyle, who missed the Republic of Ireland's friendly against Argentina on Wednesday with bleeding in his calf, has made a return to light training and could play on Saturday, although Wales midfielder Dave Edwards is a serious doubt with a groin strain.
