Michael Mancienne has claimed he is ready to join Michael Kightly in pushing for a return to first-team action at Wolves.

Mancienne came through a planned 45 minutes in last night’s reserve game against Bolton at Telford, which the second-string lost 2-1.

The on-loan Chelsea utility man looked comfortable in central midfield in his first taste of action since December 5, after recovering from patella tendon problems.

Now the 23-year-old is ready to compete for a place again to add to his 50 League appearances over three loan spells in three seasons at Wolves.

He said: “It’s been a long time but it was great to be back playing. The knees felt great and I felt really strong.

“I’ve worked really hard in my rehabilitation. Chelsea and Wolves have worked together to help me a great deal to get back fit again. I feel really good now.

“Playing 45 minutes was just another step in my recovery really. But it was good for my fitness and I felt I benefitted a lot from it because I’ve now got half a game under my belt.

“Hopefully I can be challenging towards the first team soon because I feel fit and ready to go back into the team.”

Since Mancienne last played competitively, in the 3-0 defeat at Blackburn on December 5, Wolves have added another loan midfielder from the capital in Tottenham’s Jamie O’Hara.

In addition, Kevin Foley and most recently Stephen Ward have played the anchorman role he has grown into, as well as captain Karl Henry.

With that in mind, Mancienne accepts he is going to have his work cut out to reclaim a place in a team that has taken 17 points from the 13 games he has missed.

He said: “It’s going to be difficult for me to get back in, so I’ve got to work hard in training so I can impress the gaffer and the coaching staff.

“I need to get that match sharpness and match fitness back into my legs so I’m going to be working hard to get that now.

“I just need to start playing football regularly again.”

Kightly is now bearing down on a possible recall for Saturday’s derby at Villa after three reserve games following 15 months out.

And England Under-21 captain Mancienne, who has played with the winger at Wolves and international level, believes he is the sort of player who could make an immediate impact.

He said: “It’s great to have Kightly back because he’s been out for such a long time. He’s definitely got the ability to impress in the Premier League. As soon as he’s ready, I think he’ll do well.

“Coming off the bench, he’s going to be fresh. And with these three games under his belt, he’s got a bit of match fitness and sharpness now.

“He makes things happen – he creates things with the ball and makes opportunities for the other boys, which is what we need.

“I feel he could definitely make a difference to us over these last nine games. It was back in the Championship when I last played regularly with him.

“He’s been really missed by the team because he’s such a good player.”