Sam Vokes is relishing making the step-up to the Championship and the battle to win a place in Wolves' starting line-up.

Sam was one of three new signings yesterday checking in at Compton for the start of pre-season, meeting the whole of the Wolves squad for the first time since his summer switch from Bournemouth.

Boss Mick McCarthy has already stated that while only 18, Sam has been brought in to fight for a starting berth right from the off, which is music to the ears of the Welsh international.

"There are some really good strikers here but like everyone says competition is good," says Sam.

"Everyone knows how hard they've got to work to win a place and then keep it which can only be good for the team.

"It was a great confidence booster to hear the manager saying it was up to me to try and win a place in the line-up.

"It's good to know to  join a new club and hear that even though I'm young, if I work hard and do well I've got a chance.

"Wolves are a big club and it's a good step-up for me and that is something to thrive on.

"The chance to play in front of crowds of 24,000 as the average was last season is an opportunity to relish."

Sam continues: "Going into the Championship is a big step-up for me.

"It's a new league for me because I haven't played at this level before and that offers a new challenge.

"I just want to work hard this season and if so, who knows what might happen?"

Sam admits he's been made to feel extremely welcome by Wolves' tight-knit squad, and is already relishing setting foot on pastures new.

"It's all gone great meeting the rest of the boys for the first time and I've been made to feel really welcome," he explains.

"This first week is going to be hard work but that's just part of football and I'm just trying to mingle in with the squad.

"It's always nice to have a bit of a break in the summer but coming back to the hard work is what it's all about at the end of the day.

"You have to get your fitness levels up to make sure you're ready to go.

"Pre-season is always the hardest part of the campaign especially coming back from the summer but it's all part of it and you have to knuckle down and work hard.

"It was great for me to get my move sorted at the start of the summer because it meant I could go away knowing where I was coming back for pre-season.

"I already know a couple of the boys from Wales and met a few more for the fitness assessments last week but it's good to get back again and see them all."

The extra spring in Sam's step since signing for Wolves is also down to making his international bow, which arrived just days after putting pen to paper at Molineux.

Two end-of-season appearances for Wales, making an impressive impact from the bench against both Iceland and Holland, handed the striker another major confidence-boost ahead of his first Championship season.

He adds:  "It was amazing for me to finish off the season with two senior caps, particularly to play in Holland in front of their fans and with all the quality players they've got.

"It was a great feeling and obviously I was really happy to get those two caps, you can't beat playing at that sort of level.

"To be on the same pitch as people like Ruud Van Nistelrooy just shows what a massive summer it's been for me and how it's all happened really quickly.

"But now it's a case of making sure I knuckle down here, keep my feet on the floor and hopefully get a chance during the pre-season friendlies."