Perhaps it’s part of the gradual evolution of our side under Roy Hodgson but having played for last season with a distinct lack of width, it is interesting to hear Mick McCarthy sound a warning to his players to watch out for Fulham’s wide players on Sunday.

Our narrow midfield four has given way to a more fluid – and maybe conventional – quartet, which was somewhat expected after the arrival of Damien Duff. The Irishman will provide plenty of natural width and drive that had been lacking before necause, of the players filling those roles for the first team, only Simon Davies was a bona fide winger. McCarthy will know all about Duff having given him his international debut as Republic of Ireland manager back in 1998.

The Wolves manager has already singled out Clint Dempsey, who now seems at home in a wide position, the product perhaps of being used there regularly since his Fulham career started and now filling that slot for the USA.

The two wingers Duff and Clint Dempsey are a real handful, the pair of them.