Milestone reached for right-back

Wolves defender Kevin Foley achieves a double milestone – but he has a confession to make.

The in-form full-back is set to make his 200th League start on his 24th birthday at Cardiff – but he admits he fears for his place.

Foley has played in 58 out of 60 League games since his £700,000 arrival at Molineux, more the sort of record to induce complacency than paranoia about his place.

The former Luton man has been in superb form recently as the "one Kevin Foley" chants from the South Bank during Tuesday's 2-1 win over Swansea testified.

He reveals his consistency is driven by fear over the axe.

He said: "I know if I have two or three bad games on the trot, I won't be playing, because it would only be fair to give someone else a chance who's been training well, or playing well in the reserves or at a different club.

"There's Stears (Richard Stearman) and (Michael) Mancienne who have played a lot of football at right-back. We've got Litts (Mark Little) as well who's a really good young player too, so I'm under no illusions.

"I want to keep that position for myself and not let anyone come near it. You've got to fear for yourself because if you don't, you become complacent and think 'the position's mine no matter what.'

"That's how footballers should be – you should work hard in every game and improve in every game."

As for the chants, Foley is flattered at the fans' recognition, but hearing them has made him more determined to keep his standards sky-high.

He said: "I was aware of it at the time and it's good to hear things like that because it's usually the strikers or the goalscorers that get that.

"It was a new thing for me but it's one of the nicest feelings you could have. It's happened a little bit if I scored at Luton but there aren't as many fans there as there is in the South Bank, so it was great to hear. It's a sign that the team is doing really well.

"But the last thing you want to do is hear things like that, get complacent and end up a flash in the pan.

"My aim is to keep my standards as high as I can, keep my feet on the ground and keep winning games for Wolves."

Foley has enjoyed a virtual blemish-free career at Wolves to date. He is quick to credit the man who he believes has done more than anyone else to develop him as a player – boss Mick McCarthy.

He said: "The gaffer brought me in and I've been lucky enough to play virtually every game. I feel I've learned a lot, especially with him being an ex-defender.

"I love it here, I enjoy being with the lads and I just want to play as many games for Wolves as I can. Before I joined Wolves I always tried to stay as consistent as I could and that has to be the aim for very footballer.

"Keeping consistently high standards, not having just one good game and one bad game is what you aim for.

"It's a long, hard season and you're needed for every game. The games you don't do well in, you're just hoping your team-mates can dig you out of a hole.

"We have a team spirit here where if someone isn't having the best of games, we rally together and help their confidence."

Turning to the Cardiff game, Foley admits Wolves owe the fans one after their dismal performance at Ninian Park in the FA Cup last February.

McCarthy fumed that it was the worst performance in his time at Wolves and the sight of the loyal travelling contingent unloading the full extent of their anger is one of the most memorable of the manager's era.

Foley said: "We let the fans down there when we lost 2-0 in the FA Cup, although we produced one of our best league performances of the season in the league, winning 3-2, I think we owe them one.

"We went out for the warmdown like we do after every game and we felt their disappointment. It's always disappointing for the fans when they travel all that way to see the team perform as badly as that.

"You just have to hold your hands up and not let it happen again."

McCarthy has stressed the need for clean sheets and has brought a 'back to basics' approach in training. Despite having conceded a third Championship worst 22 goals, Foley admits he doesn't mind how the wins come.

He said: "We'll be looking to be quick out of the blocks but we want to keep it tight so hopefully we can nick a result. A win is a win. While we're still winning, we can work on things."