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Carl Ikeme became a regular in the reserves throughout 2003/04 and was named on the first team bench for seven of Wolves' Premiership matches, as understudy to Michael Oakes, before the arrival of Paul Jones.

He was again named as an unused substitute five times during 2004/05, after spending a spell on loan with Accrington Stanley, where he made three appearances.

Ikeme spent the first half of 2005/06 on loan to Stockport, returning to Molineux in January.

The following season saw him dogged by a knee injury which was the first of a series of problems restricting Ikeme to only a couple of Wolves appearances prior to the 2008/09 season.

But his patience was rewarded with his first sustained run in the team making 10 successive starts before being forced off at Sheffield United in November with a hip injury.

He was soon back again to vie with Wayne Hennessey for the first team shirt and signed a new contract in December, 2008, keeping him at Molineux until 2012.

With Wayne Hennessey and then Marcus Hahnemann occupying first team duties in the 2009/10 season, Ikeme enjoyed successful loan spells at Charlton, Sheffield United and QPR during that campaign, with another at Leicester at the start of the following season.

A shoulder injury then required surgery but Ikeme made a full recovery to head into the 2011/12 season ready to battle for a place in the team.