And the Wolves boss will hope history doesn't repeat itself, with Bent getting on the scoresheet against his would-be buyer yet again.

Bent was one of McCarthy's top targets when Sunderland were promoted in 2005, the Black Cats boss having had his scouts watch the Cambridge-born striker for months.

Sunderland could have got the then Ipswich striker for £2.5m and, as well as Bent, had their eyes on other targets who would have gone on to prove themselves bargain buys.

But with McCarthy eventually handed a transfer budget of less than £5m to build a Premier League squad after the 2004-05 promotion, the chances of getting Bent evaporated.

With less than £5m to spend in total and the need bring in more than half-a-dozen players urgently, McCarthy had to accept that Bent was beyond the budget he was operating under.

The striker, 21, at the time, went on to leave Ipswich that summer and score 22 goals for Premier League Charlton Athletic.

And to add insult to injury, Bent scored twice on his debut for Charlton in a 3-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Now McCarthy, back in the in the Premiership after steering Wolves to promotion, will hope lightning doesn't strike twice and that Bent won't once again fill his boots against him at the Stadium of Light.

The Wolves boss, who has spent more than £10m at Molineux already this summer, is currently having a better time in the top-flight than he ever did at Sunderland.

His side currently lie 12th in the Premier League with a respectable seven points from six games.

But he knows the Stadium of Light will present a real challenge to his newly-promoted side tomorrow. And he will be especially wary of Bent.

McCarthy confirmed yesterday: "I tried to sign Darren when he was at Ipswich. He's a good player and a very good striker.

"But I think it had already been done at the time and he was going to Charlton. I inquired."