Matt Murray is on course to be fit to rejoin the start of Wolves’ Premier League preparations.

The luckless keeper is currently recovering from his latest serious injury, a ruptured patella tendon in November.

But the 27-year-old, who missed the promotion celebrations after being given leave to go on holiday to Portugal, is hopeful of joining his team-mates for the start of their summer preparations.

“I’m working hard and being ready for pre-season is still the aim,” said Murray.

“Fingers crossed it all goes according to plan because I know with injuries there are always things that can happen.

“I’m still doing my stuff though and went in the gym and the pool every day while I was away and made sure I was eating and sleeping well.

“It would be nice to think I could be in the frame for the pre-season tour of Australia.”

Murray, who hasn’t pla-yed a competitive game for Wolves in two years, would relish the chance to compete again for a place after cruelly breaking down again, on loan at League One side Hereford.

But he is taking nothing for granted as he attempts to add to his single Premier League appearance on the opening day of the 2003-04 season before his injury curse struck again.

“I’m under no illusions about the battle in store with the other keepers when I do get fit,” he said.

“It’s going to be far from easy to get back in but that has to be the aim, and trying to play more than the one Premier League game like I did last time.

“Maybe it will work in reverse to last time. Then I played almost all the games when we got promoted and just the one in the Premier League.

“Maybe this time I won’t play at all until we get up and then make a few more appearances when we get there.”