Craddock's desire to play on

Wolves veteran defender Jody Craddock has declared his desire to play on and win another contract at Molineux.

The oldest outfield player on the books will see his second one-year deal expire this summer but the 34-year-old, who is set for his 200th game for the club at West Ham this Sunday, believes he is as fit as ever.

With that in mind, Craddock will be looking to extend his stay into an eighth season.

He said: "I feel I can carry on – I'm happy doing what I'm doing, feel fit, healthy and strong and I've felt good in training. But people above me will decide whether they want to keep me."

It is understood tentative talks have already taken place between chief executive Jez Moxey and manager Mick McCarthy on the futures of the two senior players out of contract this summer, Craddock and goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

Both have impressed this season and Wolves are desperately short of Premier League experience.

Craddock is 35 in July and admits staying in the team will enhance his prospects of winning a new contract.

He said: "I need to continue playing this season for anything to happen though, so the best thing I can do is put myself in the management's heads. Physically, I don't feel it's a problem.

"I know the age thing is a bit of a stigma, but I'm hoping the club don't think it's a problem."

Craddock becomes the first Wolves player since Joleon Lescott in September 2005 to reach the milestone of a double century, and it's one to be proud of.

He said: "It's good for any player to do that at any club, in this day and age when players tend to change clubs more quickly.

"I wasn't aware of it, but having been at Cambridge for four years, Sunderland for six and now being in my seventh year at Wolves, I've proved to be a pretty loyal player to the clubs I've been with."