The Carling Cup last year provided Ronald Zubar with his first taste of life in a Wolves shirt as he set about the task of becoming accustomed to the English game.

 

Twelve months on, the same competition may once again provide the Frenchman with his first action of the season, but the circumstances couldn't be more different.

 

The 24-year-old is now a fully fledged exponent of life in the Barclays Premier League having occupied the right back berth for Wolves in 23 of their 38 league games last season.

 

And while there is always going to be serious competition for that slot with the likes of Kevin Foley and Richard Stearman, it's injury which has kept Zubar on the sidelines up until a possible appearance this evening.

 

"It's been frustrating in pre-season," Zubar admits.

 

"I got injured in the first game with my ankle and then I picked up a groin injury later on.

 

 

"Now I'm happy to be fit and be back in training.

 

"Hopefully I can be involved tomorrow and then maybe have another reserve game if needed and come through them.

 

"Then it's a case of staying 100 per cent and being ready to try and get a chance in the team.

 

"It is frustrating because I had a holiday in the summer and was then thinking about keeping myself fit to come back in good condition.

 

"Then after the first couple of weeks of pre-season I play a match and get injured.

"That's football!  I just have to stay positive in my head and do everything properly to try and get back to match fitness quickly.

 

"I didn't miss too long but it was 10 days just before we started the season.

 

"I've just been very supportive of the lads who have started very well in the first two games of the season.

 

"It's just disappointing because I'd really enjoyed last season and have come back and had injuries which I can't do anything about."

 

Zubar has been back in training for around a week now and was an unused substitute at Goodison Park on Saturday, the ground where he made his first Premier League start last October.

 

He may well be one of the beneficiaries of Mick McCarthy's decision to shuffle his pack for the visit of Southend, a year on from that debut which saw Wolves prevail on penalties against Swindon.

 

"I've been training for a week or so now and feel good and I was on the bench on Saturday," he added.

 

"I'll be ready if the gaffer needs me tonight.

 

"The Carling Cup was my first game last season and it might be the same again!

 

"It was a good memory for me and a clean sheet even though it took us to penalties to get through.

 

 

"These games are never easy, no games in England are.

 

"Hopefully we will put on a good performance tonight and get a clean sheet again and win the game.

 

"It could be a similar game tomorrow and games like this can be very hard.

 

"Teams come and want to try and cause an upset and are very motivated and determined.

 

"And whoever does play tonight will have the chance to try and impress the gaffer.

 

"At the moment the team is playing very well but it's up to the rest of us to be ready if a chance comes.

 

"If we win the game it is just normal as we are the team in the higher league.

 

"But if we lose it could be bad for confidence which we don't want after such a good start.

 

"We need to keep things going and do what the team have done in the last two games and keep confidence high."

 

If Zubar does feature tonight he hopes it could lay the foundations for an assault on a spot in Wolves' league team once again.

 

He is aware that will be tough, but believes the upturn in competition in all areas of the team can only be positive for the squad as a whole.

 

"Last year it took me time to settle in but hopefully the game this year is different as I have played more games now and have adapted," Zubar insists.

 

"I need to get myself ready to try and get in the team for the league matches this year because I believe I am ready and have learned from the experiences of last season.

 

"There is good competition for places now and we must all push each other for the good of the team.

 

"It makes it easy for the gaffer if all the squad are ready to play well because he knows that whoever goes into the team is focused to put on a good performance."

 

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