Dave Edwards has “raised the bar” for Mick McCarthy’s middle men – now the 22-year-old wants to become Wolves’ version of the complete midfielder.

Edwards gave a virtuoso performance in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Cardiff, to justify McCarthy’s faith in his recall after seven games without a start.

The former Shrewsbury man worked himself to a standstill against the Bluebirds.

Such was the conviction of the Welsh international’s performance that it would be a big surprise if he doesn’t keep his place for the visit of struggling Plymouth.

Edwards might have the lungs on the pitch, but he is a sponge off it as he soaks up as much information as he can from the coaching staff as to how to improve his game.

Now he feels he can continue to develop his game and become the most versatile midfielder on the books – and help Wolves achieve Premier League football into the bargain.

He said: “Definitely – I feel there’s a lot more to come. If someone had said to me a few years ago that Mick McCarthy would be saying I’d raised the bar at a Championship club top of the table, I’d have snapped their hands off.

“It’s a great position to be in and I’ve just got to go out there with the same mentality tomorrow if selected. Until I get a lot older and “lose my legs”, I feel I’m always going to have that energy.

“My passing and shooting are improving – I’m a lot more relaxed in front of goal – but I need to score more. So if keep improving that side of my game plus stay on my feet and not dive in when I’m trying to defend, I can continue to improve.

“I’ll never pull out of a tackle – I’m aware a couple of times I’ve just tried to nick the ball rather than making the tackle first and foremost, but they’re all sides of my game whereby I make a mistake and I know not to do it again.

“I’m also aware that when you do make a tackle, it raises the crowd too and that gets you on the front foot. So I’m trying to improve on all these things and I don’t mind the hard work.”

Edwards feels he has reaped the benefits of his time at Molineux.

He said: ““TC (assistant boss Terry Connor) works on the attacking side of the game and compared to how I was a few years ago, I pass the ball a lot quicker.

“I trust myself in possession and I feel I can use my strength, so no one’s going to take the ball off me easily.

“But when you have players ahead of you such as Sylvan (Ebanks-Blake), (Andy) Keogh, Vokesy (Sam Vokes) or Chris Iwelumo and our wide players, they’re all looking for the ball so when you’ve got it, there are options for you. It makes it an easy pass.”

Plymouth come to Molineux having won one in 16 but Edwards has warned his team-mates not to be complacent.

He said: “It’s not nice playing teams on a losing run because they’re just waiting to win a game – but they could say the same about us.

“But if we apply ourselves in the correct way, I’m certain we’ve got the better players. So as long as we match or surpass them for effort, be brave in tackles and brave on the ball, hopefully we’ll be alright.

“That first goal will be crucial so hopefully it will go our way.”

Edwards has endeared himself to the Molineux masses with his boundless energy.

He revealed his inspiration behind the perspiration in a gold shirt – his mentor and former Wolves midfielder Nigel Vaughan.

Edwards said: “If a run needs to be made, I’ll make that run. It’s always been my game. When I came to Wolves, I remember speaking to Nigel Vaughan (Shrewsbury head of youth, ex-Wolves player) and I asked him what the crowd were like.

“He said as long as you give 100 per cent, they won’t get on your back. If it’s a tough game, but they can see you’re working hard, trying to put tackles in and being brave, they won’t get on your back.

“So I try to do my best.”

Edwards continued the tempo last week against Cardiff, after the whole team set the tone with a blistering first half hour.

But the Welsh international is confident the team can tap into that free-flowing play that overwhelmed the Bluebirds in the first half.

He added: “I’m sure if we look after ourselves right and not overdo the training so we can come out with the same tempo and enthusiasm we had on Sunday.

“Because the results are all that matter really.”