Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Michael Mancienne back for Wolves
Tuesday 15th March 2011, 10:00AM GMT.
Forgotten man Michael Mancienne forms part of an impressive cast list in action for Wolves reserves.
Mancienne has returned from Chelsea and makes his first appearance since the 3-0 defeat at Blackburn on December 5 for tonight’s second string outing at home to Bolton at AFC Telford.
The on-loan Chelsea utility man has recovered from patella tendon problems and joins a strong Wolves team which includes goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, Jody Craddock, Michael Kightly, David Jones, Steven Fletcher and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake at the New Bucks Head.
And Mancienne expressed his relief at finally being available again.
He said: “It’s been quite a troublesome injury and has probably been the longest I’ve had.
“It was a patella tendon injury and tendons usually take longer to heal than bones and muscles so it’s great to have recovered.
“I’ve been working really hard on running and fitness work at Chelsea and trained a couple of times there last week. It was my first session back at Wolves yesterday and it felt good.
“I’m ready to step things up and am really looking forward to playing for the reserves tonight.”
Wolves have opted to field youthful reserve line-ups recently, but as the first team haven’t played for nine days and some have had even longer without any match action, manager Mick McCarthy has decided to hand several squad members a much-needed ‘top up.’
Kightly plays his third reserve game since returning to fitness after 15 months out, building towards a possible first team recall in Saturday’s derby at Villa.
The winger has played 45 and 60 minutes so far, scoring his first goal since March 2009 last week in the 2-1 defeat against Blackburn Reserves at Leigh.
But while Mancienne and Kightly figure, there is no place tonight for Wolves’ other long-term casualty, Adlene Guedioura.
The Algerian World Cup star is understood to need another week’s training, after returning to work with the first team eight days ago following his broken leg.
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