WATCH: Kevin McDonald gets a clean slate at Wolves

Midfielder Kevin McDonald has been offered a clean slate by Wolves boss Kenny Jackett – and challenged to win a first-team place.

McDonald was frozen out of the squad for the final two months of last season.

It was widely believed there had been a behind-the-scenes dispute between him and Jackett, something the head coach has denied.

But after declaring last month that he wanted McDonald to stay at the club, Jackett has now given the Scot a fresh start for the 2016-17 season.

He also confirmed that no club had yet lodged a bid for the midfielder. Jackett told the Express & Star: "We want him to stay.

"We haven't had any bids for Kevin, despite him not being involved towards the end of last season.

"Kevin has reported back, he looks fit and well and it's a fresh start and a fresh season for everyone.

"He's got to work hard now to get back into the team. It has to be a fresh start for him and every pre-season is like that."

McDonald's last Wolves appearance came in early March, when he was substituted at half-time in the 2-1 victory over Bristol City at Molineux.

Jack Price, Conor Coady, George Saville and David Edwards were preferred in midfield, with McDonald only sporadically seen on the subs' bench thereafter.

The pair held talks at the end of last season, in which Jackett re-iterated he wanted McDonald to stay at Molineux.

And it is thought the player is also keen to remain with the club if he's part of Jackett's first-team plans.

It now appears to be up to McDonald to prove his worth during pre-season. The Wolves boss added: ""He's been a mainstay for the majority of his time here.

"Sometimes you have to then go back to basics, battle for it and that's going to be his pre-season – battling for his first-team place against Rotherham (Wolves' opening fixture).

"He's a positive person. He likes being at Wolves and he'll be working hard, getting his head down and looking to get that shirt back.

"There are generally times when people who maybe finish strongly the previous season come back and can't get going.

"There's also lots of cases at every club where somebody can have an indifferent season, or end to the season.

"It can build up their determination and fitness levels and hit pre-season with everything they've got and start the season well.

"We're looking at people that are going to do that, and have the individual motivation to improve, and to see the season as a fresh start.

"We need to attack the Championship with everything they've got."

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