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Michael Kightly proved to be the bargain buy of the 2006/07 season when Wolves secured his services, from Grays Athletic, for just £20,000.

The winger originally came to Wolves on loan in November and then signed a two and a half year deal in January 2007.

On the eve of his permanent move, it was reported that Manchester United were keen to capture his signature but Kightly remained at Molineux and made a significant contribution to the second half of the season.

A trainee with Southend United, he spent a spell on loan with Farnborough before signing for Grays in July 2005.

He missed a sizeable chunk of the 2007/08 season through an ankle injury but his undoubted promise was rewarded with a new four-year contract in the summer.

And he made 41 appearances in all competitions as Wolves clinched the Championship title in 2008/09, scoring eight goals before suffering a broken metatarsal in a behind-closed-doors friendly in March.

He spent the first chunk of pre-season going through his rehabilitation work at the Compton training ground to give him every chance of being ready for the Barclays Premier League.

Unfortunately, just he was getting back to his best, Kightly picked up an ankle injury after coming off the bench against Birmingham in November, 2008, and later suffered prolonged problems with his patella tendons.

Surgery in Sweden at the end of 2010 saw Kightly then return to fitness towards the end of that season, making his first appearance in 17 months at Newcastle in April, 2011.

Returning fit and well for pre-season ahead of 2011/12, Kightly also put pen to paper on a contract extension which ties him to Molineux until the summer of 2014.

Kightly had previously become a regular member of the England-under-21 squad while at Wolves.