Why Mike Williamson's a man on a Molineux mission for Wolves

First – to return to full fitness after a hugely frustrating five-month absence through injury. And second – to help Wolves return to the Premier League, writes Tim Spiers.

He may have dropped down a division from Newcastle United, but Williamson is convinced that with Wolves he's well placed to get back to the big time.

And he's going to work harder than ever to make that dream a reality.

"I have got a good number of appearances there so far and have been in a team which finished fifth in the Premier League and went into Europe," he said.

"We had fantastic times, and I want more of it.

"I am going to work just as hard, if not even harder, to get myself back there, as I did when I was younger.

"A few of the lads ask me about the Premier League and it is another world and it is about doing everything you can to try to get there.

"The Championship is a fantastic league with some great clubs and is probably one of the most physically gruelling and hardest leagues to get out of, especially looking at the standard next season.

"But the Premier League is definitely the place to be and that is what we will all be aiming for and giving everything for."

Despite his recent injury hell Williamson has not been prone to injuries during his career.

He is confident enough to assert that it'll be 'plain sailing' once he shakes his current knock off.

But the 32-year old does concede he may have to tone down his workload as the years creep up on him. And he wants to be able to help a young squad with his undoubted experience, saying: "I try to be in and around the lads and the dressing room as much as possible and chat to the guys, especially if it is a tough period.

"Sometimes you can get stick and that is part and parcel of football and I experienced similar at my last club.

"In that sense it has been frustrating on all fronts.

"For me I am an experienced player but I see many more years left in me yet!

"Every year your experience grows and your perspective on life changes.

"From a workload point of view that is something I have had to take a look at. I am notorious for over-working, I always want to work hard whether in the gym or on the training pitch.

"It is part of my nature to continually want to push myself but as you get older and into the so-called twilight years it is more about recovery, flexibility, mobility, longevity.

"That is something I have had to address."

As for his current injury, the Stoke-on-Trent-born centre half says it's down a combination of problems that have been a 'bit of a puzzle'.

"When I came to Wolves I hadn't played much and had possibly been in a de-conditioned state and maybe just overloaded my tendon," he said.

"This was the first injury I have had where it has been a bit of a puzzle.

"I was so eager to get back on the pitch but every time I increased the load it flared up again.

"Sometimes you need to let a tendon settle down for a couple of weeks and then slowly, incrementally, build the load up.

"Obviously I wanted to come here and play straightaway but it kept flaring up.

"It has been frustrating but it is all behind me now and I have got this prolonged period of time to get my mind and my body 100 per cent.

"I can't wait for next season to start.

"It has been hugely frustrating for me to come back and not have the impact that I wanted."