Midfielder David Edwards believes Wolves can build from a position of strength next season because of the quality already at boss Mick McCarthy’s disposal.

The team finished 15th in their first season back in the Premier League, having clinched safety with two games to spare.

McCarthy wants four or five signings this summer and has targeted Lens striker Aruna Dindane, Anderlecht utility man Jelle van Damme and Hull winger Stephen Hunt among others.

But Edwards, who is currently with the Wales squad preparing for Sunday’s friendly in Croatia, believes Wolves already have one of the strongest squads in the bottom half of the Premier League.

He said: “Out of all the teams below halfway in this league, I believe we’ve got one of the strongest squads.

“I’ve talked to the lads in our dressing room about our reserve line-up and if you look at it, it was virtually the side that won the Championship for us.

“There was usually quite a lot of experience in there and it’s great to see the depth of the squad here.”

Wolves carried a decent-sized squad for their position in the league last season and Edwards believes it’s no little skill from the manager to keep all the players motivated and on their toes, with first teamers regularly turning out for the reserves.

He said: “It’s a credit to the manager how happy he manages to keep all the players here – we’re such a good squad with such a good team spirit and we’re all motivated too.

“If you’re told to play in the reserves, no one takes it the wrong way – everyone wants to play games to impress the manager.

“We’ve got a great squad and a very good balance.”

Having made 20 Premier League appearances, Edwards was just thrilled to be in the team, after missing three and a half months of the season with an ankle injury from December.

But the 24-year-old was probably none more surpised and thrilled as when McCarthy turned to him after captain Karl Henry was suspended for three games for his sending off at Arsenal.

Edwards said: “It was such a confidence boost to me to be in the team when Karl was suspended because we’ve got so many good midfielders here with Adlene Guedioura, Andrew Surman and Nenad Milijas vying for a spot and David Jones already involved.

“We’ve got a very good bunch of lads here and no one will ever rest on their laurels, because no one’s place is guaranteed. We all want to be playing and for me personally, I want to play as many Premier League games as possible.

“I want to be in the team every week and I imagine everyone’s the same.”

Milijas will no doubt be better for having adapted to the Premier League and, with Guedioura having signed permanently, Edwards accepts the competition will only get tougher next time around.

He said: “We’ve got a lot of other midfielders in Nenad, Adlene and other players who can play different positions. So it will be tough to get into the team next season.

“All I can do is train well, hopefully get into the manager’s thoughts and do well when I get on the pitch.”

Hard graft is a staple of Edwards’s game which naturally goes down well with McCarthy, who insists on strict work ethic from all of his players.

Like all of the squad, he gets on well with the manager and the former Shrewsbury man, who signed from Luton for £675,000 in January 2008, places huge credit on his development to McCarthy.

He said: “Mick has been great ever since I’ve been here. He’s stuck by me and I’ve got a good relationship with him, as all the lads do – he’s got everyone’s respect and there’s not one player who doesn’t get on with the manager because we’re a really tight bunch.

“I get on well with him and I work hard in training to get my chance. Everyone looks up to him and for personally, he’s been brilliant throughout my whole career.

“He brought me here off the back of me playing League One football, which was a big thing for him to do.

“Hopefully I’ve proved I’ve been worth the money spent.”