Kightly eyes derby return

Wolves star winger Michael Kightly makes his comeback tonight - with one eye on a Black Country derby return.

Kightly is set to start in tonight's Pontin's Holiday League Central clash at Oldham, kicking off at 7 pm, after making excellent progress from surgery to remove a bone spur from his ankle on February 29.

The 22-year-old rejoined full training on Monday and has reported no reaction and joins Stephen Ward, who also makes his comeback after a knee injury.

Kightly feels he will be ready to challenge for the first team after tonight, and would love to figure when arch rivals Albion come to Molineux next Tuesday.

But after two failed comebacks, the former Grays man admits he won't risk breaking down again by rushing back.

"If I can get through 45 minutes, then I'll crack on from there," said Kightly."If there's no reaction and I can get through training on Friday and a reserve game, then I think I'll be fit enough for a first team game, but it's not for me to say.

"Whether that's in the manager's mind I don't know, but it's not like I need to rush back.

"The team went through a bad patch before and it was killing me to see that.

"But now we're doing OK. Realistically, if we can win four games, we can make the play-offs and I think they can do that without me.

"I've come back before and broken down and it doesn't do anyone any favours, so I can understand the gaffer being cautious."

Kightly is confident his ankle has been fully tested.

"The ankle has felt brilliant - I've done everything you could possibly imagine on it and there's not been one problem," he said.

"I haven't even thought about the ankle - it's just other parts of my body.

"Hopefully I can get 45 minutes and they might let me stay on for another 15 minutes. I've flown through rehab but training is more difficult because your body is going through a lot.

"So I've got to be cautious and don't come back too early. There have been times when I've felt there was no light at the end of the tunnel."