Wolves keeper Matt Murray takes a major step towards his return to senior action when he makes his comeback this week.

The 28-year-old one-time England hopeful is pencilled in for the reserves against Birmingham on Tuesday at AFC Telford (7pm).

Murray’s latest attempt to regain full fitness sees him back in action almost a year since he ruptured his patella tendon on loan at Hereford.

It’s been a long road for the hugely popular Murray, who sustained his latest serious injury in only his third game for the Bulls on his comeback from cruciate knee ligament reconstruction.

And Murray, who has been restricted to just 100 games since making his debut seven years ago, is playing down his latest appearance.

“It’s just the next step on my rehabilitation so I’m not getting too carried away,” said the giant keeper.

“But it will be nice to be back out there playing a match with a back four in front of me and getting used to things again.

“I’m looking forward to it, and hopefully will come through the 90 minutes with my knee feeling fine.”

Manager Mick McCarthy is delighted to see Murray back in action.

The former England Under-21 international was Player of the Year in McCarthy’s first season in charge in 2006-07 when he kept 17 clean sheets.

“He’ll probably play on Tuesday,” said the boss.

“He’s doing his level best to get back. I don’t think he’s anywhere near a first-team game yet, but he’s joined in with training for a few weeks now.

“We’ve been taking shots at him and he’s taking crosses and shots, so he’s made real progress.

“It’s great for Matt, first and foremost. It doesn’t matter how much running and weights and training you do, you want to get back playing matches, which for him is catching crosses and diving, getting at people’s feet and blocking things.

“It gives everyone a lift when people start coming back from injury.”