Karl Henry wants to stay at Wolves

Wolves captain Karl Henry wants to stay at Molineux for the rest of his career.

Talks have been ongoing for some months at extending the contract of the midfielder, who returns to the starting line-up in tonight's FA Cup third-round replay against Doncaster at Molineux.

The fact his current four-year deal still has two-and-a-half years left to run shows how important the club think he is.

And, whether it is moneybags Manchester City or Doncaster standing in his way, the 28-year-old knows more performances like he was producing before his knee injury can only strengthen his hand.

He said: "I'd be delighted if something could be sorted out. I'm captain and I love being here - I'd love nothing more than to sign a new contract.

"If I could remain here and be captain as part of a successful era for Wolves that would be an ideal situation."

Henry, who made his comeback with a 21-minute appearance off the bench in Saturday's 4-3 defeat at Manchester City, makes his first start tonight after missing eight games with a medial ligament tear sustained in the 2-1 defeat at Blackpool on November 20.

The skipper is delighted to be fully fit and firing again.

He said: "My knee is absolutely fine. I'm playing tonight and it's a good game to be playing in, because I just want to get back into the swing of things as quickly as possible.

"The only doubt about me on Saturday was a lack of match sharpness. I'd been out for seven weeks, so maybe just to come straight back into it and be playing was going to be a big ask.

"The gaffer had said that to me and I had no problem with that whatsoever, I agreed with him.

"Injury-wise my knee is absolutely fine and I just want to get myself 'match sharp' by playing games."

But Henry, whose frustrating watching brief included the 2-2 draw at Doncaster 10 days ago, is expecting a tough ride against the Championship side.

He said: "It won't be easy because they showed what a good team they are at their place in the 2-2 draw.

"They're always a good footballing side and Sean O'Dricoll's a very good, well-respected manager whose sides always pass the ball around really well.

"So it's a good game for me to be coming back into. It's one we want to win and hopefully we will do."

Henry admits Rovers' players — who have a smattering of Premier League experience in former Everton man John Oster and ex-Manchester United and Middlesbrough midfielder Mark Wilson — will relish coming to Molineux.

The Wolves captain said: "They've got good players and they're a good passing side, which suits us because we'll try to get the ball down and play.

"They've got Billy Sharp, who I'm sure was not given the opportunities he wanted at Sheffield United.

"But from all the reports I've heard from Andy Keogh and people who have played with him, they have all said what a good player he is. So whoever's at the back will have to be alert and alive.

"They've also got a lad I was with at Stoke, Wayne Thomas, who I'm looking forward to seeing.

"He was a very good player at Stoke who went on and played a lot of games."

Should Wolves win tonight, there is the incentive of a home tie against either Stoke or Cardiff, who replay tonight in Wales.

As a former Stoke player with several ex-Wolves team-mates with the Bluebirds, Henry would be guaranteed a reunion with familiar faces whoever gets through.

He said: "If we can overcome Doncaster there's the incentive of a cracking home tie, whether it's Stoke or Cardiff.

"They're both good sides and either would present a good test for us, but we need to get past Doncaster first.

"Cardiff would be keen to test themselves against us because they're trying to get into the Premier League and it would be a good measure of their progress.

"I haven't got a preference though, just as long as we get through.

"It's important we play well and take that into Saturday."

Wolves also go into tonight's tie anxious to maintain the momentum of their recent performances, so they can approach Saturday's Premier League visit of Liverpool on a high.

Henry said: "Performance levels must stay high. Since I've been here, we've always had good second halves of the season and we need to keep that up.

"It's imperative we have a good strong run-in from now to the end of the season."

Henry believes Wolves did just that on Saturday in their breathtaking encounter at Eastlands.

He said: "I was disappointed we lost. Watching the first half, I thought the boys were immense.

"We really deserved to come in at half-time ahead."