Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today promised Michael Kightly an extended chance to prove his Premier League credentials – and declared the winger his best signing for the club.

Kightly was man of the match against Villa in last Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at home when he scored his first Wolves goal since March 2009 just a week after being recalled to the starting line-up against Tottenham.

McCarthy is poised to give the 26-year-old several consecutive games.

“What he needs now is seven, eight, nine, 10 games in the Premier League on the bounce,” said the boss.

“That then will tell us where he is.

“Physically, he’s just like brand new.

“He’s completed the last two Premier League games without any problems at all. He’s been terrific.”

Asked if Kightly has been his best signing for Wolves, McCarthy added: “I think at £25,000, for what he did for us in the Championship, I couldn’t argue with that.”

And despite the player’s misfortune with injuries, McCarthy is already convinced Kightly is a Premier League player.

“Yes he is, because he’ll just get stronger and fitter and he’ll be fine,” he said.

“He had Premier League ability before that, and his ability was never in doubt for me.”

Defeat to Villa plunged Wolves into the drop zone for the first time this season, but McCarthy has no shortage of belief in Kightly’s ability to help turn things around.

“Michael has really good qualities – he just needed to be physically right,” he said.

“He came back from his loan at Watford and looked different from when he left.

“Players get their ‘je ne sais quoi’ or spirit or their love of the game or the love of everyone else or the happiness, or whatever it is that they get back and the world is a much rosier, sunnier place.”

See also:

• Wolves thwarted in drive to boost squad
• Steve Morgan willing to back Mick McCarthy
• Karl Henry is sorry for Wolves dismissal