It's been a fairly hectic five weeks for Wolves' loan defender Michael Mancienne.

A loan move from Chelsea, some well deserved rave reviews after his initial Wolves impact, an incredible England call-up and then picking up a virus that left him barely able to run.

Never a dull moment for the classy 20-year-old defender who was back in the team for Saturday's Molineux draw with Birmingham.

And now there's the small matter of a first return to QPR where he spent much of the last two seasons gaining his first senior experience.

Michael was happy enough to have his health back ahead of the weekend just gone and the big Midlands derby.

But he was also delighted to see Wolves hit back for a point against their nearest rivals at the top of the Championship table.

"Birmingham was a tough game as it was always going to be against a team up there at the top of the table," he admits.

"We stuck at it and got a goal and what was a well deserved point.

"It was important we kept that gap and we managed to do it.

"The illness certainly knocked me about and I still felt it a bit during the first half.

"By the second half I felt a lot better and I feel normal now.

"It was just a virus I picked up after coming back from the England trip.

"That was obviously tough but I just had no energy, I couldn't even run.

"I'm just glad it's passed now and I feel alright again."

Michael's first senior international call-up certainly caused plenty of headlines but it was a development he took effortlessly in his stride.

And while he didn't quite make it onto the pitch for a first cap in the 2-1 win in Germany, he certainly isn't complaining.

"England was great, just to be in and around it was really good experience," he explains.

"The standard was obviously very high and I was just happy to be involved.

"I might have got on from the bench if the game had been more comfortable but because it was so tight that made it difficult.

"But I took a lot away from the week as a whole, I was just glad to be there."

All roads not lead to Loftus Road as Wolves head to West London for Saturday evening's televised clash.

There'll be plenty of old friends for Michael to bump into but those pleasantries aside he is just hoping for the sort of result that keeps the pressure on at the top of the table.

"I had a couple of good seasons at QPR which I'm grateful for so I'm looking forward to Saturday's game," he adds.

"They gave me a first taste of first team football and I still know a few of the lads there.

"That won't stop me trying to help us win the game on Saturday though.

"It's good to be here at Wolves at a club near the top of the league because you're trying to play good football.

"Being involved in a relegation scrap sometimes makes it more of a battle just to win games and it's a different kind of football.

"It's a different kind of pressure at the top end of the league but it's one I relish."