LONDON - Wolverhampton Wanderers have been asked to explain their decision to field a weakened side for Tuesday's 3-0 defeat by Manchester United, the Premier League said yesterday.

LONDON - Wolverhampton Wanderers have been asked to explain their decision to field a weakened side for Tuesday's 3-0 defeat by Manchester United, the Premier League said yesterday.

"The Premier League Board has written to Wolverhampton Wanderers to request their observations in relation to the team fielded in their League fixture against Manchester United," the statement read. "Once the observations are received the board will decide whether any further action is warranted."

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, whose team face fellow strugglers Burnley on Sunday, selected a virtual second-string line-up for the Old Trafford defeat, which put them back in the relegation zone.

"I took the decision knowing full well that questions would be asked and was has happened is that we've come out tonight without any more injuries," McCarthy told the club's website.

Only goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann survived from the side that recorded a surprise 1-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, leading some Wolves fans to chant "we want our money back" during the United match. The loss dropped Wolves back to 18th in the league while United drew level on 37 points with leaders Chelsea.

"That was the best team available to me tonight because it was fresh legs and I thought we were as competitive tonight as we were against Chelsea and Arsenal," McCarthy said. - Reuters