Single Minded

Wolverhampton Wanderers built their reputation on attacking football.

Flying wingers, fearless forwards and marauding midfielders who fed the vibrant Molineux crowds hunger for excitment and glory.

Then along came a man whose own attacking flair could so easily have seen that ethic not only rejuvenated, but enhanced to new heights of achievment.

But we all know what happened next.

Patience replaced zest. Tactical uncertainty set in when guile was needed, and the snarling Wolf lost its teeth.

One of the many surprises Mick McCarthy sprang when he started his golden revolution was to return to Wolves attack minded roots.

Many were openly critical at the time of his appointment, but all previous assumptions on how McCarthy's Wolves would play have been set aside by the way Wanderers now set their stall out.

Sunday saw Wolves chalk up their first league win of the season at Hillsborough, and a return to the style of play that brought so much success in the latter part of last season, and it couldn't have come soon enough for Michael Kightly.

The former Grays man opened his account in the 3-1 victory following neat work between Andy Keogh and Freddy Eastwood and with all of Wolves main attack threats combining to create the space for Kightly's goalscoring overlap.

"We haven`t really been able to do that in the first two games of the season and me, Stephen Ward and Andy Keogh have been a bit disappointed because that is how we like to play, but that changed Sunday and long may it continue.' he told the E&S this week

"There were three or four of us running at them but that was how we played last year too - we play attacking, exciting football.'

Kightly leaves the pack this week to join up with the England U21 squad. Non league to International duty in less than a year is no mean feat, and he is hoping to carry Sunday's form into the National squad and make his mark.

"I`m now going to go away with England and hopefully convince Stuart Pearce that I can play a part in the squad in the future." he said.

The last time Wolves supplied the full National side with a wideman, it was the unfortunate John Richards who, played out of position never represented his country again.

Should Kightly pick up where he left off last season, and maintain his form and continue his steep learning curve, it is hard to imagine his coathooks will remain as bereft of caps.

Join the Vital Fantasy Football League - its Free!