Club owner Whelan is adamant he would never prevent any of his players from moving to one of the big clubs.

But he is equally determined no-one will leave this month as Wigan try to ensure their top-flight status after ending a run of five games without a win at Molineux.

Whelan said: “We have got quality players, who will go to top-six teams, but not until the end of the season.

“We are Wigan, we have to buy and sell players, and you can’t stop a lad going up to the top level, the top six teams, and I would never do that.

“Two or three of our lads will go to big clubs and I never stand in their way.”

Whelan admitted: “We don’t want to sell Hugo, full stop but we are Wigan and have to be sensible. But there is no chance of selling Hugo in the window. We are selling no-one in the window.

“Those kind of players are the difference between staying up and getting relegated. You’ve got to score goals to stay up. He is just brilliant, that lad, a wonderful player.

“Rodallega could have had two or three goals against Wolves. He is so quick but it wouldn’t go in for him. He is normally lethal as a striker and is a real handful.

“There is a World Cup coming up and I’ve said to the lads ’go and play in it and, once you are outstanding in the World Cup, the big clubs come calling’.”

Whelan added: “The manager (Roberto Martinez) is building his squad. We have moved two or three players out.

“He is happy with what he has moved out and what has come in so now hopefully we can go on and make our Premier League position safe.”

Victory for the Latics moved them three points clear of Wolves, with James McCarthy scoring the opener on his Barclays Premier League debut after also netting in the FA Cup win against Hull in his previous game.

Ironically, the 19-year-old came close to agreeing a move to Wolves from Hamilton last summer before deciding to move to Wigan.

McCarthy said: “It is a dream come true for me to go and play in the Premier League and get a goal in my first start.

“I did nearly sign for Wolves. I went down and looked at Wolves. It is a great club but these kind of things happen.

“Wigan came in at the last minute. It was a hard decision to go for one or the other.

“I spoke to Graham Jones, the assistant manager, and he was at Hamilton with me, and the way he spoke to me and told me about this club, I was happy with my decision.”

Wolves’ major problem is their lack of potency in front of goal – they have netted just 17 times in 21 league games.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who scored 25 times last season, looks devoid of confidence and squandered a chance from ten yards out with the goal at his mercy.

Top scorer Kevin Doyle said: “We had a result like that against Birmingham a couple of months ago and then won the next three games.

“That’s our aim again, to be positive, and come back. There are plenty of games to go.

“Obviously we are disappointed. We were not jumping around the dressing room. It is not nice to lose but we realise there is a long way to go and we have to try not to let it get us down too much.

“We have to try and be positive and win next week and the week after.”

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy wants to sign Hull midfielder Stephen Hunt and Doyle would welcome the arrival of his former Reading team-mate.

He said: “Hunty would be a good signing. I know him very well. He would add quality to the squad. We’ve got a decent squad but you always need more.

“It is going to be a tough second half of the season and in the next couple of weeks a lot of teams will be strengthening. I am sure the gaffer will add a couple.

“Hunty’s style of play would suit us because we all try to keep going to the very end. The manager signs players like that.”

Both sides finished with 10 men as Wolves defender Richard Stearman and Reading midfielder Hendry Thomas were given their marching orders.