Paul Lambert on Mike Williamson and Prince Oniangue

Wolves' injury list is beginning to shorten after Williamson and Joe Mason played 45 minutes for the under-23s on Monday.

Oniangue also played a full 90 minutes in his second game back.

After the game Williamson told the Express & Star that the last year had been the most frustrating of his career and that he was desperate to contribute to Wolves' season.

Lambert, who managed Williamson when the pair were at Wycombe almost a decade ago, said he was looking forward to having the 33-year-old available for first-team selection.

He revealed that Evans should be the next to return, followed by long-term knee injury victim Jordan Graham in the New Year.

Of Williamson's comeback, Lambert said: "It's huge for him, first and foremost.

"It's about building him up. I know him from my Wycombe days, I know it's a few years ago but he was excellent for me and went on to have a fantastic career.

"Hopefully he's going to stay injury free because he has the experience that you ask for.

"Joe Mason got 45 minutes, the next one will be Lee Evans and then Jordan Graham in the New Year."

Wolves will play a behind-closed-doors friendly against Shanghai SIPG at Compton Park tomorrow as part of the Chinese team's whistle-stop tour of England.

Williamson may be involved, with the under-23s not scheduled to play again until January 9.

Lambert, who said he was fortunate never to experience anything like Williamson's injury nightmare during his career, added: "Touch wood he's over it now. We're having a game here because the under-23s shut down which is a bad time for Williamson and Joe Mason, people like that.

"They need game time.

"If we can keep him fit hopefully Mike will be okay.

"I can't recall even pulling a muscle during my career. The injuries I had were very limited. I had a little thing in my cartilage which was nothing and then I had a stress fracture, but I was 33 years old.

"I couldn't relate to a muscle injury."

Oniangue, a £2million summer signing from Reims, hasn't featured since the October 18 defeat to Brighton, initially from being left out and then more recently through injury.

But he looks set to soon return to first-team action after playing twice for the under-23s.

Lambert said of the Congo international: "Getting 90 minutes is good for him because I don't think he's played enough football.

"Prince has good athleticism. I think he's still ring rusty from being out for a bit of time.

"If he adapts more quickly than he has done then that's important.

"It's like anything, a new guy in a new league, it's tough, but in the time I've seen him he's done fine.

"For him he probably doesn't know the league and he's been injured."