It was something of a bitter-sweet evening for Richard Stearman as he returned to the team against Arsenal on Saturday.

 

Delight at a first start for eight weeks since an ill-timed early season training injury, satisfaction at his performance on the left hand side of defence, but obviously disappointment at the overall result as Wolves were undone by the Gunners.

 

Boss Mick McCarthy admitted it was always going to be a challenge for the Wolverhampton-born defender to go in at left back against Arsenal's array of attacking riches.

 

But Stears proved himself up to the task, also venturing forward particularly in the opening half hour when Wolves enjoyed a dominance of possession.

 

Clearly the result remained the most important statistic on show on Saturday evening.

 

There remains the feeling though, not just at Molineux but amid over half of the Barclays Premier League, that any points gleaned from the 'big four' are always going to something of a bonus.

 

"At Leicester I'd pretty much played all over the park so I felt quite comfortable in there at left back," he says.

 

"The gaffer asked me to do a job for him and despite the scoreline I was quite pleased with how I played.

"It was always going to be a tough ask but in general I was pleased with how it went but unfortunately the main priority is always the scoreline and we didn't get the result we wanted.

 

"It just shows where we need to get to in terms of just how good Arsenal were.

 

"Thank goodness we don't play Arsenal every week and as the gaffer said we're not going to be judging our season on results against the very top teams.

 

"It's going to be positive results against the teams in and around is that will keep us in this league.

 

"If we manage to nick a point or two from somewhere against one of the big boys then great but we are looking at the teams in and around is from which to get our points."

 

Having himself come in for the injured Kevin Foley, Stears had looked accomplished at right back early in the season - as well as scoring against Hull - before suffering the ankle injury on the eve of the game with Fulham.

 

The form of Wolves' defenders since his return to fitness, and indeed the fact that Kevin is now in a similar boat awaiting a chance to return to the fray, has left the England-under-21 international reflecting on an intense battle for places which should serve the club well.

 

 

"I'd been delighted with how I started the season and then took a bit of a setback with the injury," he explains.

 

"The gaffer had pulled me to one side and said how well I was doing and just told me to keep my head down.

 

"It was testament to how well Zubes has done and the rest of the back four that it's been so hard for any of us to get back playing.

 

"You only have to look at Kevin Foley who was Player of the Year and he's being kept out through no fault of his own because the boys have been doing so well.

 

"It's made it tough and is still making it tough for any of us to get the shirt.

 

"You just have to keep telling yourself that a chance will come along and when it does be ready to take it and grasp it with both hands."

 

Stears continued: "The competition shows we've got some good strength in depth and that's throughout the team.

 

"It's great to be able to look at the bench and see players who can come on and affect games and that we've got a talented squad and plenty of internationals.

 

"That should stand us in good stead for the tough times that will happen and when we pick up a couple of injuries and suspensions.

 

"We'll then have players who can come in and do a good job."

 

Saturday's defeat at the hands of in-form Arsenal saw Wolves slip into the bottom three for the first time since the opening day of the season.

 

But Stears insists there'll be no loss of confidence as a result, believing the signs  have been promising over the initial third of the campaign.

 

"You look at the table at the moment and we are second from bottom but one win and you jump about five places," he says.

 

"It's so tight at the bottom there and we said this week on the training ground how well we've done so far despite how it looks.

 

"We've just got to keep picking up points and a few wins and the whole table will take on a very different view.

 

As a team we are happy with how it's gone so far but just have to make sure we pick up points."