This time a year ago, even at Molineux where relegation hung in the air like a dark fog, Joleon Lescott was the saddest and most frustrated of figures.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers centre- half was finally facing up the fact that he would miss his side's inaugural season in the Premiership in its entirety.

The complications that surrounded his double knee operation, a story still shrouded in much secrecy, even at one point led to speculation as to whether he would ever play again.

But Lescott has cast aside those doubts with impressive vigour this season. Since returning in August, he has performed with the sort of consistency that characterised his first three campaigns as a first team fixture.

His physical presence and muscular strength in the tackle are just as eyecatching. And, although any good player will always stand out in an indifferent season, the former England Under-21 defender looks a strong candidate for Wolves' player of the year.

The only surprise is that there have been no inquiries to take Lescott to the Premiership stage he thought he had earned with Wolves two years ago.

With his team now knowing that they must stay down for another year, maybe there soon will be.

"I'm sure people have looked," said Wolves manager Glann Hoddle. "But there's been nobody knocking on the door yet and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Hoddle is more concerned with adding the one major aspect to add to Lescott's game that will make him more the finished article . . . an air of leadership. And he urges Lescott to follow the lead of his captain Paul Ince.

"You can't beat having real leaders on the pitch," said Hoddle. "And, if Joleon could get there it would add a massive string to his bow, as he already has so much ability as a player.

"His year out was a big blow, but it's made him a better character. And although he's not a leader yet, by the time he's 28 he can have become one.

"His partner at the back Jody Craddock has really come out of himself well this season and taken to leadership. Maybe Joleon can take a leaf out of Jody's book and learn to talk a bit more.

"And he can learn from someone like Paul Ince.

When you're a leader you need to talk well, to give you that extra bit of presence, but only as long as you can read the right game and say the right things.

"There's no good being a talker and saying the wrong things. I've played with a few like that down the years.

"It depends on what you're shouting and hollering. We all know Incey likes a good shout and a good moan when things go wrong. But that's not all that he's about.

"I admire him for his leadership, his driving force and the standards he sets. When I read about him being just a ranter and a raver it always makes have a little chuckle.

"But even a character like Paul Ince knows he needs to encourage as well.

"I said to that to him when I first arrived. It's all about balancing things. About not giving too much on the negative side.

"It's a massive lesson he's got to learn for when he goes on to coach or maybe even manage. Criticism has to be tempered in the right way.

"If he keeps bawling at them and they switch off because they've heard it so many times before, then he's not going to get a reaction."