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Irish under 21 international Stephen Ward joined Wolves in January 2007 following a short trial.

The Dublin-born striker was first spotted by Mick McCarthy when he was at Sunderland but a trial at The Stadium of Light did not result in a contract at that stage.

He returned to his club Bohemians before finally making the move from the Eircom League for a record (but undisclosed) fee.

Ward, who signed a contract until June 2009 which has since been extended to 2011, can play either as a striker or wide on the left of midfield.

In his Championship debut season he made 11 starts and 10 substitute appearances and scored three goals, following it up with another 31 outings in the 2007/08 campaign.

The 2008/09 season showed up yet another string to his bow as after injury to George Elokobi, Ward was used to impressive effect at left back.

Injury briefly curtailed his impact, but all in all he made 41 league appearances as Wolves won the title and proved one of the team's most consistent performers.

Having started the 2009/10 campaign as a regular, Ward suffered a cartilage injury which forced him out before returning to action at the end of 2009.

He made 22 Premier League appearances in total during the season, playing through the pain barrier in most as a result of that knee injury, and went under the knife again with a week remaining of the season.

That meant he was unable to join up with the Republic of Ireland's squad after his first senior call-up, but the blow was cushioned by a new and improved three-year contract tieing him to Molineux until 2013.