New boy John Ruddy ready for Wolves challenge

Wolves' new goalkeeper spent seven successful years with Norwich City, earning England recognition and winning two promotions to the Premier League.

But now, aged 30, he's embarking on what he hopes will be an even more prosperous journey at Molineux.

He's certainly enthused by the challenge - even if it might take a bit of getting used to after so long at Carrow Road.

"It's strange being the 30-year-old new boy!" he said. "I was at Norwich for seven years and had a fantastic time there during a relatively successful period.

"I was proud of what we achieved while I was there.

"This is a a new start and I feel like I've got another 10 years in me - I feel fit and strong and I'm looking forward to a new challenge."

Ruddy spoke to the Express & Star at Wolves' idillic Austrian retreat.

The goalkeeper, who has signed a two-year contract, signed in time to join the 23-man squad for a nine-day trip that will take in three matches.

Nuno Espirito Santo was keen for Ruddy to join the group in Austria, he said.

"I spoke to the manager on Friday when I went up there and he was keen for me to be able to come away, mainly because he's setting the groundwork now for what he wants from the season ahead," Ruddy said.

"It's an important time for the whole group to be there and get a grip on the ideas he wants to implement.

"It's a good group of lads and it's nice being away as well.

"Being confined to the hotel is a great way to get to know each other and the training, double sessions, it's quite full on but it's all good and beneficial to what we want to achieve.

"I've been a few times to Austria with different clubs, it's a popular place to come.

"It's always a good environment with decent hotels and the standard of pitches has always been good."

Ruddy is believed to have rejected Sunderland when choosing Wolves and could surely have held out for a Premier League club, given his credentials.

So why Wolves? "Wolves was the offer that excited me the most with the way the club's moving forward," he said.

"The stadium and training ground are superb and you see with the calibre of players they are bringing in, it's an exciting place to be.

"With the Premier League, it was more the lack of guarantees going to a Premier League club and playing. If I'm 36 and nearing retirement it might be a more attractive proposition to sit on the bench and see out your career somewhere.

"But at 30, feeling like I've got a lot to give Wolves, it was important to go somewhere I feel like I'm going to play.

"But it's still enough of a challenge to make sure I'm on it every day of the week."

Ruddy has been getting to know his new team mates out in Austria.

One of them - former Norwich team mate Ryan Bennett - he already knows very well, plus some of the other players from matches over the years.

"Obviously Ryan I know and the other boys is just from playing against them over the years," he added.

"The impression I've got and from speaking to Ryan before is that it's a good group of lads.

"The standard of players is very good. It's important, obviously with what the club are trying to build, that we've got that groundwork already in place.

"It's very exciting and that's why I joined."

Wolves kick off their pre-season friendly campaign tonight with a stern test against Bundesliga side Werder Bremen.

Ruddy is set to make his first outing in a Wolves jersey - and it's a game he's looking forward to.

"We've got three good games to be fair," he said. "Bremen will be a very good game and a good test of what the manager is trying to implement.

"Plzen, we played against for Norwich last year and they were a good outfit, and I'm sure Jablonec will be decent as well.

"Then it's back to England and three more good games to lead us into a tough opener against Middlesbrough."