The battle for a starting place in Mick McCarthy’s Wolverhampton Wanderers midfield is certainly hotting up but while David Edwards may be up for the challenge of ousting current incumbents Karl Henry and David Jones, he is honest enough to admit it isn’t a situation he is enjoying.
Because of a succession of injuries, the Wales international midfielder has made just ten appearances for Wolves since joining from Luton Town for £675,000 last January and he wasn’t even involved in the squad for the Championship curtain-raiser at Plymouth last weekend. The 22-year-old was given a much-needed run out on Tuesday during the Carling Cup first-round win over Accrington Stanley and now hopes to push his way into the Championship squad.
“I need to get into the first team,” Edwards said. “I came here to play games and I don’t want to take a backward step now and not be involved. My aim is to play as many games as I can this season.
“I am relishing the battle for a place in midfield but at the same time I am not enjoying it. Last Saturday, I was very disappointed not to be involved at all in the squad. I felt I had a point to prove on Tuesday night, although it was a hard game to come in for.
“It was really good for me to have to go through extra time [after which Wolves won 3-2] because I don’t think I have played 90 minutes since March because of injuries.
“I did okay on Tuesday, considering it was my first game for a long time. I got myself into some good attacking positions and I just need to sharpen up a bit now. My match sharpness will come and hopefully I will play a few games and get into the first team. Hopefully I can push David Jones and Karl Henry for their places in the team and see how it goes.”
Meanwhile, Wanderers chief executive Jez Moxey has rubbished reports in Scotland that Wolves were set to break their wage structure in a bid to sign Celtic defender Bobo Balde.
Rumours north of the border claimed Balde had turned down a £27,500-a-week contract at Parkhead to move to Molineux, but Moxey insisted Wolves would not be paying inflated wages to any player, particularly one for whom who Birmingham City refused to pay over the odds in pre-season.
“It’s a complete non-starter,” Moxey said. “We have had no contact with Celtic on this issue whatsoever. It’s completely out of our wage structure.
“What we want to try to communicate to people is that we just do not do this sort of wage. We don’t pay that sort of money to anyone.”
