'The right character' - why Wolves have re-signed goalkeeper John Ruddy

John Ruddy has been backed to make a difference on the pitch and in the dressing room by the people who signed off on his return to Wolves.

The 39-year-old goalkeeper is back at Molineux, four years after leaving, and eight since he helped guide them back into the Premier League.

And his ‘strong personality’, ‘experience’ and ‘quality’ have all been highlighted.

Executive chairman Nathan Shi said: “In John, we feel like we’ve signed not only an experienced goalkeeper, but also someone who will be a strong personality off the pitch.

“He has won the Championship with the club previously and the experiences he can share with the group will be invaluable.

“It’s important for Cesar to have goalkeepers who push each other and drive standards, and John is the right character to fit back into the club seamlessly, having been such a big presence during his first spell, so we’re delighted to have him back.”

Ruddy made a crucial injury-time penalty save against Cardiff City on a dramatic night in south Wales that was crucial in their charge to the Championship title and made Ruddy a Wolves hero.

Head coach Cesar Peixoto wants his goalkeepers to work well together during the season - and believes Ruddy is the right addition to make that happen.

He said: “He's home at the club, so will be an important guy on the pitch, but also in the dressing room. He is a player who played a lot of games, who got to the Premier League with Wolves and who has a lot of knowledge of the Championship and English football.

“It’s important to bring new faces, new personalities, but it's also important to build a strong group, a strong spirit, and I think he can add this quality, and we want to bring these characteristics to the club.

“It’s a long season and our goalkeepers have to work all together to stay at a high level. It’s important they have a good environment between them because all of them are here for the team, for the club.”

And technical director Matt Jackson added: “It’s rare that a signing can affect all areas of a football club, but it really feels like he can do. We know exactly what we’re getting, both as a man, and as a footballer, and we think that he has the attributes to really help the goalkeeping group from a technical perspective.

“He will guide the squad an awful lot and can concentrate on that side of his game without us having to teach him the fundamentals of goalkeeping. His qualities will be crucial, but that’s not to say that he’s not also still a very, very good goalkeeper.”