Mick McCarthy anticipates Wolves' survival battle will again go to the final day but hopes Kevin Doyle can help them avoid relegation.

Wolves only escaped the drop from the top flight with three minutes to go of last season as Stephen Hunt's goal against Blackburn edged them ahead of Birmingham.

Manager McCarthy expects another nerve-jangling finale as he prepares for Sunday's derby with West Brom at Molineux.

But he is taking some comfort from the return to form of Doyle who scored the winner against QPR last weekend to move Wolves out of the bottom three.

McCarthy said: "People say these games or those games will decide the outcome of the season.

"I seem to remember being sat here last season, saying it might be the last kick of the season that it would go down to, maybe the last goal, the last point.

"That's how it turned out and maybe that will be the same again.

"These next few games are vitally important but it could go to the very last game, and it looks like it will because it is ever so tight in the bottom half of the table."

Doyle has lost his place in the starting line-up with Steven Fletcher now established as number one striker.

But the Republic of Ireland international came off the bench to end a 13-game sequence without a goal at Loftus Road.

McCarthy said: "I was pleased with Kevin's performance. He looked back at it, looked powerful and skilful and he is a classy player and that is permanent.

"He has lost his form a bit but he came back with a bang on Saturday and was excellent.

"His goal was lovely for him because playing well is one thing as a centre-forward but scoring goals is what his job is and so that gave him the most pleasure.

"Strikers would settle for playing mediocre and getting a couple of goals because that is what they are paid for."

McCarthy added: "Doyler has been, as always, exemplary in his behaviour, training and attitude.

"He has had it tough with not playing and I can understand that because I've been there as a footballer.

"You try everything to get back to your form. I'm never quite sure how you lose it and I'm never quite sure how you get it back.

"Kevin was always going to come back to his form. If we've got an in-form Kevin Doyle back now, that will be great for the rest of the season."

McCarthy is confident Wolves will have the necessary discipline to cope with a derby despite midfielder Kark Henry being sent off against other local rivals Aston Villa two weeks ago.

He said: "Listen, it was not like Karl. It was a moment of madness but our disciplinary record is generally good.

"We don't let things like that affect us. It was a mistake. We are all entitled to one."