Wolves midfielder Adlene Guedioura insists he has returned from the World Cup a better player.

The Algeria international returned to start his pre-season this week anxious to build on a whirlwind few months that have seen him catapulted from being a relative unknown in Belgium to a £2million star gracing the Premier League and global stages, after coming on in all three of group games in South Africa.

While the rest of his team-mates have been honing their preparations with heavy wins against Bohemians and Walsall a month into their training, Guedioura has been sunning himself with a well-earned break after his exertions, along with fellow World Cup internationals Marcus Hahnemann and Nenad Milijas.

But Guedioura is now refreshed and ready for the challenge of building on last season’s achievements as a better player for his experiences in South Africa, playing eight minutes of their 1-0 defeat against Slovenia, nine in the 0-0 draw against England and 21 in the 1-0 reverse against the United States.

He said: “The World Cup is the best competition in the world. It was a great experience, I really enjoyed it and learned a lot from it.

“I hope I showed to people at the World Cup what I can do and that I represented Wolves well.

“I learned how you have to be really focused all the time into such a short spell, as it’s not like a big season.

“I didn’t play all that much time but I was a new player in the Algerian team and I just enjoyed the times that I did play.

“It was a bit frustrating, because I think we deserved a little bit more than we got in the competition.

“We were involved in three very close games and could have done better, but in football you can’t win if you don’t score.

“Against the United States we lost in the last minute and just before that we had a good chance to score. But that’s football.

“I think Algeria will get better and hopefully will show that when we qualify for the next World Cup.”

Guedioura feels ready to fire again after impressing for Wolves last season with his powerful bursts from midfield, which included his first goal in the last day win against Sunderland and a heavy ‘assist’ with his deflected own goal winner in the vital 2-1 success at Burnley.

He said: “Three weeks off is a short time after a long season, but I’m not going to complain about going to a World Cup.

“I enjoyed the three weeks because I was with my family and had a holiday. I do feel refreshed, ready to start work again and hopefully have a good season at Wolves.

“I was back in on Monday and had my fitness testing on Tuesday. We’ve all got to do the work and I’m ready for the pre-season to get myself right for the start of the season. I was on loan here last year but I know I’m here permanently.

“I finished last season well with the Sunderland game, am really happy about starting again and trying to get in the team.

“I think we can do well again this season and I’m really excited about it.”

Having only just returned to pre-season, Guedioura isn’t likely to figure heavily when Wolves go to his former club Charleroi for their third pre-season friendly on Saturday.

But the 24-year-old warned they face a tough examination against his old side.

He said: “It’s special to go back to Charleroi because it’s my last club and I have many good memories there.

“And I think I’m at Wolves now because of what I did at Charleroi. If I hadn’t enjoyed it there and done well I wouldn’t be here now. I was also captain there which was really special.

“Charleroi have a big stadium and a lot of good players. So it will be a good game and a tough one.

“It will give us a good test as we continue with pre-season.”