Midfielder Dave Edwards has become the latest of Wolves’ promotion winners to pledge his future to the club after agreeing a new three-year deal to stay at Molineux.

The 23-year-old will put pen to paper on his new terms today as the players returned for the start of pre-season training.

Edwards signed a two and a half year deal when he joined the club for £650,000 in January 2008 from Luton.

And he joins Karl Henry, Kevin Foley and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in signing long term contracts this summer.

Hard-running Edwards appeared in more League games – 44 – than any other Wolves player apart from Henry and Foley in the Championship-winning campaign last season, although he only started 23 of them.

Edwards, who ended the season playing wide right, returns from his holidays with more competition for his place following the arrival of Serbian international captain Nenad Milijas.

But his busy, box-to-box athleticism and versatility is seen as key to Wolves’ chances of survival as they prepare to embark on their first season back in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Wolves have been linked with another central midfielder as boss Mick McCarthy welcomed back the majority of his squad today.

Reports suggest the club have contacted Monaco about £1.5m-rated 57-capped Croatian international Jerko Leko, 29, who is transfer-listed and has a year left on his contract.

Wolves have also been linked with a fresh approach for Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne.

The England under-21 international remains a long-term target of McCarthy’s. But the club haven’t been able to take their interest further because of the lack of a manager at Stamford Bridge.

By TIM NASH