Wayne Hennessey says thanks to Matt Murray

Stricken keeper Wayne Hennessey today paid tribute to his guiding hand in his battle to return to first-team football.

Hennessey, recovering from cruciate knee ligament surgery, is spending the summer working in rehab to take up a role in the new Stale Solbakken era at Molineux.

But Hennessey has found companionship from one man who knows only too well what the Welsh international is going through – Matt Murray.

Two years after his injury-enforced retirement, Murray's presence at the Compton training ground is as valuable as ever with his old junior partner grateful for the support. "Matt has joined me for some of the gym sessions as well as the additional swimming – the big man has always been brilliant for me," said Hennessey.

"No matter what happens he is always at the other end of a phone and in what has been a tough period for me, he has been there. He's been through the same injury as me, knows all about it and understands what I'm going through."

Murray, who is preparing for a career in coaching, is confident of last season's Player of the Year making a full recovery. He said: "Wayne has reacted brilliantly to this setback and I can't believe how positive he has been. And Wayne is a good healer. He hurt his shoulder at Bristol City and came back well, and has done his cartilage in the past but recovered strongly too."