England-under-21 international Michael Mancienne today checked in for a third loan spell at Wolves - and will stay for the season.

The versatile and highly rated Chelsea star was at the Compton training ground first thing this morning to finalise another year-long loan stay to strengthen Wolves' options once again in the Barclays Premier League.

It's another return to Wolves for the defender who can also operate in midfield having played ten games in the Championship-winning season of 2008/09 before returning for the entire campaign last time out.

Mancienne made 33 appearances in total last season before returning to Stamford Bridge after which there has been a summer of speculation as to his future prospects.

But after Chelsea again made the 22-year-old Londoner available for loan, Wolves swooped for a player well-liked in the dressing room who made a major contribution to survival last season.

Mancienne, who has three years remaining on his contract at Chelsea, was also a success in his first stay at Wolves, the club winning six and drawing three of the ten games in which he appeared.

His form while at Wolves also earned him a first senior England call-up for a friendly game with Germany in Berlin in November, 2008, for which he was an unused substitute.

Mancienne was then recalled by Chelsea in January to feature in six games for the Blues, including coming off the bench in the Champions League win over Juventus, and the Londoners won all six.

He was named Young Player of the Year at Chelsea for the 2008/09 season.

In total he has made 22 appearances for England-under-21s, scoring one goal, and is again in the squad for the European Championship qualifying double-header next week.

England are away at Portugal a week tomorrow before welcoming Lithuania at Colchester's Weston Homes Stadium on Tuesday, September 7.

Mancienne, who joins his team-mates in training today, will now be available for Wolves for a third possible 'debut' for Saturday's home game with Newcastle.