Sam Ricketts is loyal to Wolves mission

The former Telford United defender's performance was one of the few highlights of Saturday's 5-0 demolition by Derby as he was recalled for only his second League start of the season.

The 33-year-old was preferred at left-back as Tommy Rowe stood down and Scott Golbourne was injured.

Ricketts has had to wait a long time for his chance again but saw his hard work and patience pay off.

"This is football and I'm wise enough to know it's a long season and funny things happen," said Ricketts, who is one of two Wolves players, with Lee Evans, in the Wales squad for Sunday's Euro 2016 qualifier in Belgium.

"Like any player I want to play and I'm just trying to make it hard for the manager by performing well in training and in games when I get chances.

"You just keep going, keep yourself fit and if you show a good attitude, hopefully it will come. As club captain I have a responsibility to myself and to my team-mates.

"We're all pushing in one direction and that's from the owner Steve Morgan, – look at the new academy opened last week – chief executive Jez Moxey, the manager, Kevin Thelwell right the way down to the players.

"We're all going one way and looking to improve."

Jackett suggested Ricketts may have earned his place for longer.

"Ricketts played well and with Bakary Sako he was up there with our best players," said the boss.

"He made our best chance for George Saville and defended well.

"For someone out in the cold and playing on the left side, although he's two-footed, he played very well.

"Despite being the captain of a team that's lost 5-0, he can take a lot of self-respect out of the game for his own display.

"He'd only had two starts – one when Matt Doherty was out against Huddersfield and then Northampton at left-back in the League Cup.

"He's done what every good professional should when they're out – bided his time, then when he got his chance, he took it."