Kightly craves top flight return

Last updated : 09 March 2011 By BBC Sport

Wolves long-term injury absentee Michael Kightly says he is determined to prove himself in the Premier League.The winger, 25, had been out of action for 16 months after a series of knee operations, but has recently made his return in Wolves' reserve team.

"When I played last season, if I'm honest, I wasn't fully fit. I was trying to get through the knee problem," Kightly told BBC WM.

"I don't really feel I've given the Premier League a real crack."

The former Grays Athletic player arrived at Molineux at the end of 2006, initially on loan, and established himself well in the Championship, helping Wolves to promotion in May 2009.

Matt Murray's been a diamond for me, he's been a dream to work alongside

Michael Kightly

But chronic knee problems have restricted him to a handful of top-flight outings, and saw him contemplate retirement.

But it was another Wolves player who was forced to quit the game through injury who spurred Kightly to keep going.

"Big Matt Murray comes in every day and he's been a diamond for me. He's been an absolute dream to work alongside, he's helped me mentally as well as physically in the gym," he noted.

"They're all a good bunch of boys and they've been good to me since I've been out.

"Hopefully I can continue training as I've been training and get some more minutes under my belt in the reserves and be back within the first team for Wolves."

Kightly's comeback continued with a goal in the reserve team defeat at Blackburn on Monday, the winger coming through 60 minutes of action.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport