Express & Star

Wayne Hennessey lines up speedy return for Wolves

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Wolves today received a rare injury boost with confirmation of Player of the Year Wayne Hennessey's return to full fitness ahead of schedule.

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The Wales international will return to contention immediately following the international break after battling back from a ruptured cruciate ligament suffered at Sunderland on April 14.

Hennessey, 25, will be stepping up his workload and returning to full training some time after Saturday's trip to Blackburn, with a view to challenging Carl Ikeme and Dorus De Vries for the away game at Huddersfield on October 20.

The news is a boost for the club at a time when three wingers – Razak Boukari, Slawomir Peszko and Stephen Hunt – face injury lay-offs and boss Stale Solbakken is weighing up a move into the loan market for a replacement, while George Elokobi's season is over.

"Wayne should be fully fit and ready to rejoin full training with the team when the international break has finished, provided he has no setbacks," said Solbakken.

"He's doing all his work with (goalkeeping coach) Pat Mountain at the moment, but everything is going the way it should be and if that's still the case, he'll be back with us when the international break is over.

"He's worked hard and got his reward by being back a few weeks ahead of schedule."

Solbakken believes Hennessey's imminent return is reward for his positive attitude.

"It's a good thing to have all three keepers fit but it's also a reward for Wayne too because every day I've been here, he's always come in with a big smile and worked hard," said the boss.

"That's something he should be proud of because he's dealt with this setback so well mentally."

Forgotten defender Steven Mouyokolo is also well down the road on his way back to full fitness from a cruciate ligament injury, while midfielder Jamie O'Hara is halfway through rehabilitation from his latest hernia operation.

"Steven is training more and more with the reserves at the moment," said Solbakken.

"O'Hara is doing fine, but that was also the case last time and then he had a setback.

"Hopefully this operation has gone well because it's very important for his mental state that there are no setbacks again.

"It's about four weeks since his operation so he should be about halfway through his rehabilitation."