Kightly: I was close to tears after first top-flight goal (From Echo)

Kightly: I was close to tears after first top-flight goal

1:30pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Other Sport By Chris Phillips

WOLVERHAMPTON Wanderers winger Michael Kightly is delighted to be proving his worth in the Premier League – after one stage fearing he would never play again.

The former Chalvedon School pupil, who celebrates his 26th birthday today, felt he may have to hang up his boots after enduring two years of injury heartache which saw him make just five starts in the space of two seasons.

But, after successful surgery in Sweden and a loan spell in the Championship with Watford, Kightly is now back to his very best.

And he showed that by scoring his first top flight goal for Wolves in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Villa Park.

“I’ve been to hell and back in the last couple of years and there were definitely times when I thought that might be it for me and I wouldn’t ever play again,” said Kightly, who was struck by patella tendonitis in both of his knees.

“I was going to see different specialists all the time and they all had different ideas about what was wrong.

“No-one knew how to treat the injury either and that’s when I feared the worst.

“However, I ended up having surgery in Sweden and the guy who did the operation couldn’t have done it any better.

“I owe him so much but all my battles were made worthwhile when I scored against Villa.

“I was gutted that we went on to lose but scoring that goal was a really emotional moment for me.

“I was close to tears if I’m honest and it’s just so good to be back playing again and playing well too.”

Kightly, who grew up in Benfleet, played for both Southend United and Grays Athletic towards the start of his career before being snapped up Wolves, initially on loan, in November 2006.

The winger immediately shone for Mick McCarthy’s side and played a massive part in their promotion to the Premier League in 2009.

Kightly’s fine form saw him called up in to England’s under 21 squad and he became one of the brightest young prospects in the country before a succession of injuries curtailed his progress.

The winger spent prolonged periods on the treatment table but eventually regained his fitness and then his form during a successful spell on loan at Watford at the start of the season.

“I owe Watford a heck of a lot as well because the loan spell there was really key for me,” said Kightly, who scored three times in 11 starts for the Hornets.

“I needed to get games to get myself going again and I could do that there.

“They’re a great club and I loved it there.

“I proved again that I can play well in the Championship but now I want to show people that I’m really a Premier League player.

Kightly has done that in his last two appearances.

But he now wants to keep on impressing and help Wolves stay up after they dropped down in to the relegation zone after losing to Villa.

“I don't think the fact we've just dropped into the bottom three makes too much difference,” said Kightly.

“We knew before Saturday's game that we were in a dogfight and we're ready for it.”