Rob Edwards returns to Molineux insisting Wolves will be promoted this season.

The Blackpool captain’s words are certainly not any attempt at psychology, more borne from an intimate knowledge of how good the team-mates he left behind are.

Edwards said: “I’m not surprised at all at how well they have done, with the players already there and the quality the manager has brought in as well. They look very strong and will be one of the three teams there at the end.

“I know how good the lads already there were and the new lads have added to that and look good. We’re a third of the way through the season and they’ve opened up a gap already.

“I know that can be eaten up but they have a lot of goals in them. The times I was there, they had good players, but the problem was scoring goals but they have put that right and more.

“They’re looking very strong and I think they’ll go up automatically. The current top three look like the ones to beat and when you look at the players of the top three, they look very strong.

“Wolves have a lot of goals in them and that can only stand them in good stead.”

Edwards, who has been an ever-present at centre-half, also believes he will have his work cut out dealing with Chris Iwelumo and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who he rates as the top striker in the Championship.

The defender said: “Sylvan is brilliant – probably the best striker in the league. He was top scorer last season and I wouldn’t be surprised if he won the Golden Boot again.

“His whole game is brilliant. He’s got pace, movement, he’s strong on his right and left foot and he can head it well. Him and Chris are the outstanding partnership in the division and they’re so strong, so we know how hard it’s going to be.

“We have to try to stifle them and that’s what we’ll be working on.”

Blackpool won’t be turning up to be lambs to the slaughter, beating Birmingham was the highlight of an away record of three wins which betters their home form.

The Telford-born defender: “We’ve had some decent performances away from home, we’ve performed better away then at home. Bloomfield Road is normally a very tough place to play.

“I remember going there with Wolves when I was on the bench and grinding out a tough 0-0 draw. From Blackpool’s view, we need to get back to that.

“Beating Blues was the highlight but we’ve had a lot of new players and everyone is still getting to gel, but we’ve had enough time to get to know each other strengths and weaknesses now.”