Mick McCarthy has no special plans to deal with Grant Holt or Norwich City's aerial power.

City lead the way in the Premier League on the headed goal count, but McCarthy is backing his troops to handle whatever the Canaries throw at them.

'We don't go from week to week practising defending against people who can head the ball,' he said. 'We played Stoke, who have players who are particularly good at heading the ball. We don't fluctuate from one week to the other and just because a couple of lads can head it, get panicky, and practice it.

'We take into account everything about the team we're playing against, but there'll be no special attention. He's (Holt) been excellent. He's made the most of his opportunity and I love players like that.

'I've got enough of them myself in the team who have come from humble beginnings and they get an opportunity to shine and they do it. Generally it's through their determination, doggedness and bloody mindedness that wants to make them a player and they get better. I've nothing but admiration for him.'

McCarthy knows Norwich's visit heralds the start of a festive period that could go a long way to improving his side's perrilous position in the table.

'We've got Norwich and then the Premier League is treating me to Arsenal away on Boxing Day,' he said. 'Having just watched them against Man City on Sunday, that was a different level of competition altogether – it was awesome and a great advert for the Premier League. But we're playing Norwich first, so let's get some points from this one and Paul Lambert will be thinking the same. I always take the view you just never know, especially over Chritsmas.

'It will be the usual stuff 'Wolves lost on Saturday, they've had a tough time, let's keep them quiet, the crowd will start on them'. They will be saying all that in the dressing room because it goes on everywhere you go all around the world. We've just got to make sure we play well.'

The experienced McCarthy insists he is relishing the challenge of trying to halt a run of three league defeats in the last four games.

'I've been doing that for about 30 years on and off as a player and manager,' he said. 'It doesn't take much for me to get up for the games. I'm more than up for this game.'