Michael Kightly has revealed how a pre-match challenge from Chris Iwelumo led to his matchwinning brace against Burnley.

The flying winger took his tally to seven for the season with his double to sink the Clarets on Saturday to clinch Wolves’ fourth successive win and send them six points clear at the top of the Championship.

Kightly said: “It was a great win. It’s funny – Chris (Iwelumo) pulled me before the game and asked if there was any chance of me getting on the scoresheet because I was no longer on the top goalscorers’ chart.

“He said ‘if you get a brace, you’ll be back in there!’ So it’s weird how things work out – I got the brace and we got a 2-0 win which was great.”

The 22-year-old paid tribute to 10-goal hotshot Sylvan Ebanks-Blake after linking up with him for the goals.

“Sylvan’s ball for the second ball was unbelievable and I could hardly miss and his workrate was fantastic – he was brilliant, as were the rest of the boys,” added Kightly.

“Although he didn’t score, he would have been happy with the win.

“There was a little bit of luck involved in the first goal because it came back to me after I hit the post, which was pleasing.

“The second goal was all down to Sylvan – I nicked it in the middle of the pitch, fed Sylvan and he played a great ball in for me – all I had to do was get a foot on it.”

Crutch-laden boss Mick McCarthy also came in for praise from Kightly also for instilling the hardworking ethic in the team.

“The gaffer instils the hardworking ethic in us – if you don’t work hard, you’re not going to play,” he said.

“And that goes for the whole squad – even the players who aren’t playing.

“Everyone has to work their socks off in training and we’re going to keep doing that.

“It doesn’t surprise me to hear he threw one of his crutches on the pitch!”