Karl Henry today backed the attributes and experience of Marcus Bent to provide a boost to Wolves' squad after his loan arrival from Midlands' neighbours Birmingham.
The 32-old striker has arrived on a four-month deal until January 4, with the Wolves skipper believing he could prove the ideal replacement for summer departure Chris Iwelumo.
The popular Iwelumo departed to Burnley in search of regular first team football, while Henry believes Bent will rise to the challenge of providing competition to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher.
"Marcus is good player who's been there and done it in this division," says Henry.
"He's played at this level for different clubs and scored goals.
"The gaffer was looking for a different sort of player and more of a target man that we haven't got and Marcus has got a lot of experience.
"We lost Big Chris in the summer and the gaffer has been looking for someone similar and I think Marcus will add a lot to the squad.
"I know he's come here knowing that there are three strikers who are on fire for us at the moment.
"But he still wants to come here and fight for a place.
"He trained with us on Tuesday and worked hard and put a shift in and I am sure he will be looking forward to it."
Bent took up the 25th and final place in Mick McCarthy's senior squad which was despatched to the Barclays Premier League yesterday, never to be touched again until January!
Henry and Jody Craddock are now the only survivors in the 25 of the team which started McCarthy's - and indeed Henry's first game for Wolves at Plymouth four years ago.
"From the team when I first came in four years ago it's all very different now," added the skipper.
"There aren't many left from when I first joined!
"Each year the gaffer has brought in better players - the squad has become stronger and stronger and that's what it is all about.
"Last year we did a job and stayed in the league and have attracted some good players as a result.
"We signed some really good players in the summer and have got a couple of others still to come back in Hunty and Kights.
"They can make a big difference to us as well when they come back.
"We've got that 25 man squad now and it will carry us through to January."
Henry is one of those who has been backing Kightly's claims to come back and be a real force for Wolves this season.
The winger's continuing injury problems mean he hasn't been named in the official 25, but Henry is confident he will get some loan football under his belt before coming back to strengthen the ranks in January.
"Hopefully Kights will be back in the squad in January," he said.
"He knows his body better than most and the physios are doing a great job with him.
"With an injury like this sometimes it happens and you just can't get someone back fit easily.
"Kights is working hard every day and wants to get himself back as soon as he can.
"He's probably putting himself under as much pressure as anyone to get back but if it's not right then it's the right decision for everyone concerned that he's not in the squad.
"Hopefully he'll maybe get out on loan and get some games and come back firing in January."
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