Wolves will hand former Charlton left-winger Jerome Thomas an immediate debut at Milton Keynes Dons after taking him on trial.

The 26-year-old former Arsenal reserve, a free agent after being released by Portsmouth, trained yesterday at Compton and travelled with the squad to face Paul Ince’s side tonight.

Manager Mick McCarthy said: “He’s training with us so we can have a look at him and he’ll play tonight.”

Wembley-born Thomas, who made 103 League appearances for Charlton – including 71 in the Premier League – has the top flight experience McCarthy has been craving and could add competition on the left flank to Matt Jarvis and Andrew Surman.

Former England youth international Thomas spent last week on trial at Hull, playing three friendlies for the Tigers, scoring in two of them.

But boss Phil Brown reckoned the player wasn’t an improvement on what he already had.

Thomas has now fully recovered from a mystery stress fracture of the spine that kept him out of virtually all of his only season at Pompey.  Now he is looking to relaunch his career.

He said: “My immediate priority is getting playing again after last season. I’m ready now, my back feels better and I’m desperate to play.

“I feel just as good as I did at my best. It’s a case of finding the right club and the right manager who wants me to play my game.

“I just want to play and if something comes up, great, I’d certainly consider it. I’m an attacking option, I can play left or right, or in the ‘hole’. If I’m not scoring and setting up goals, I’m not doing my job.”

By TIM NASH