Stephen Ward insists he hasn’t given up on taking part in Wolves’ Championship showdown at Reading.

The durable left-back had several stitches to a gash in his shin in training on Sunday and is a big doubt for the clash at the Madejski Stadium.

But the 23-year-old came through training unscathed yesterday and remains hopeful of playing.

Ward has only just recovered from a cracked shoulder that kept him out of the previous two games but has travelled to Berkshire with the squad.

He said: “I did some training yesterday and travelled down with the team so hopefully will be available for selection. I just got a nasty cut on the shin which opened my leg up a bit and needed stitches.

“The main thing was the shoulder was OK and that was the most pleasing. I’m just glad to be travelling again and back in contention after a couple of weeks out. It’s always frustrating to miss any game but at least it’s not been too many.”

“I always want to get back as quickly as I can. I wanted to play against Bristol City, but it was a case of the medical team telling me it wasn’t a good idea. At that stage I could have done further damage which could have meant a longer spell on the sidelines.”

Having played through the pain barrier on many occasions, Ward is one team-mate any player would want in the trenches alongside them.

He said: “I think a lot of players are the same in terms of wanting to come back and would do anything to play. I’ve never minded playing through the pain barrier. Often when you get out there the adrenalin takes over and you get on with it.

“You know yourself in training whether you’re going to be OK or not, but I’ve always been someone who wants to play in every game and I think most players are like that.”

But he admits he sometimes needs protecting from himself.

He said: “I’ve always been like it and sometimes it needs someone else to say to me, ‘come on, don’t be stupid, you’re going to do yourself some damage.’

Ward also feels Wolves have some unfinished business to attend to against Reading,after the 3-0 defeat at Molineux in September.

He said: “We feel we owe them one after they turned us over at Molineux.They’re a very good side and took advantage of getting an early goal and put in a very professional performance.

“But even with that result we go into the game on top of the league and I think we’ve earned that by our season so far.  They’ve got some quality players but we feel we can match them and the league positions show that.”