Carl Ikeme targets top-six finish for Wolves

Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme today celebrated his new contract by targeting a top-six spot in the Championship next season.

Ikeme's new deal sees him committing the next three years of his career to Molineux.

And the 28-year-old is looking for the League One champions to continue their momentum with another promotion charge.

"There are probably 12, 14 teams who will think they can get into the top six and with the size of the club and the players we've got we should be among them," he said.

"Expectations are high at this club and we just have to have a good, solid season and see where it takes us.

"I trust our players and believe we have the potential to push for the top six but it's about getting into the season and seeing how we get on.

"We have to show teams respect and we'll do that but we shouldn't fear anyone as our philosophy at the moment is to concentrate on what we are doing."

Ikeme added: "I hope the fans have got pride back in the team now and can identify with the team which is important.

"Going into next season now we should have nothing to fear and try to carry on the way that we were last season.

"Everyone is very together and we need to carry that into next season and see where it takes us.

"We know there are very good teams in the Championship – it's probably one of the hardest leagues in world football to get out of.

"In a way it doesn't feel like we're a team who have been promoted and going into a new division.

"It's more like we're back to pre-season and back to normality as we probably should be in the Championship as a minimum."

Ikeme is also seeking further improvement in his own game after signing his new Wolves contract.

But the impressive shotstopper is expecting a big challenge from understudy Aaron McCarey next season.

At 28, Ikeme is approaching the best years of his career and after Wolves kept a club record and third-tier best 25 clean sheets last term, Ikeme is working on being even better on their return to the Championship.

"The aim for me, every season I come back, is to improve with Pat (Mountain, goalkeeping coach) and all of the staff," said Ikeme.

"It's about finding ways to get better and this is another season when I'm going to be looking to improve on my strengths and work on my weaknesses.

"I want this year to be better than the last one."

Ikeme is also expecting a renewed challenge from McCarey, who kept three clean sheets in five games last campaign.

"I've been speaking to Aaron through the summer and I know he's been working hard," he said.

"And he was already pushing me well last season.

"I'm sure he's going to be doing exactly the same again and that's great for competition for places.

"It's going to make both of us better and we've also got Flatty coming through as well.

"I'm sure he's going to be knocking on Aaron's door, Aaron's going to be knocking down my door, and I'm going to have to knock down both of their doors!

"It's all good fun but all three of us will come out better for it."

Ikeme is looking to become even more of a leader along with the other established figures Richard Stearman and Dave Edwards – who have also signed new deals this summer - and Sam Ricketts.

And the keeper has extra pride in his position at the club as the only one of the four to have come through Wolves' academy.

"We've got a lot of young players and I'm becoming one of the older ones unfortunately!" he said.

"We've got a good mixture I think.

"Stears and Eddo have also signed contracts and they've played in the Premier League.

"I think we're still young but we've got slightly older heads and there's also Sam with plenty of experience.

"Hopefully we can help the young players come through and develop.

"That's what I want to see having come through the academy myself and seen what a great place it is to be and I want the young players to experience that as well.

"I do enjoy that difference in my role now with the added responsibility.

"I know how great it is to play football for a living and having come through the academy how great it is to play at Wolves.

"Sometimes maybe kids get a bit disillusioned and think there is better elsewhere and end up going down the wrong road.

"I know from experience if you stick to your game and work hard, the bigger picture is you can end up playing for a massive club like Wolves.

"Being older now maybe the younger lads listen to me a bit more and I can try to show what a great career you can have in football."

Ikeme also wants to try to match his clean sheets record from last term as he seeks a solid defence again.

"We built off the solid base last season and then towards the end of the season managed to blow a few teams away a bit more," he said.

"It's massively important to have that solid base where everyone knows their jobs and hopefully we can keep that going."