Karl Henry hailed before 250 not out for Wolves
Captain Karl Henry was today told he can carry on being Wolves' enforcer for years to come as he prepares for his 250th appearance for the club.
The 30-year-old skipper will become the first Wolves player since Lee Naylor in May 2004 to achieve the milestone when he leads the team out against Peterborough in front of a packed Molineux on Boxing Day.
Wolverhampton-born Henry will become the 40th highest appearance holder in Wolves' history.
And manager Stale Solbakken believes the midfielder – a bargain £100,000 signing from Stoke in July 2006 – is good to go for a few more years yet.
The Wolves boss said: "He's only just 30 and has a great physique, so it's up to him how long he wants to carry on.
"He's also a nice man and a good footballer and a cult figure for Wolves, hopefully, for a good time to come.
"He's a leader figure as a captain and has been here in the good times and the bad times.
"He's very much his own man in terms of his way of speaking and he has big opinions – he's a debater."
Solbakken believes Henry, whose tally includes 228 league games, can still improve his game further.
And the manager reckons the ball-winning midfielder is prepared to adjust his game and be clever enough to develop with the times, with tackling becoming a dying art.
He said: "Karl can probably still develop in certain areas, as well. He's an under-rated player, as well, as he has good technique and can pass the ball.
"I think he's always been one who is the strong one who wants to 'roll over' his opponent.
"Maybe we have moved on from that now and Karl can be in a position where he can help himself and the team by being more technically aware.
"I think he's on a good way towards doing that. He can still be a hard man but he will do it at the right time and bring something else into it as well."
The only area of Henry's game that Solbakken is unsure Henry can develop is his goalscoring, with only six strikes to his name in Wolves' colours and none since January 2010.
The Molineux chief said: "He scores one goal every fourth year, so that is debatable!"
