Wolves' Dave Edwards happy to bid farewell to 2010

Dave Edwards admitted he won't mind saying goodbye to 2010.

After an injury-hit 12 months, the likeable Wolves midfielder is just relieved to be approaching 2011 fit and playing again.

The 24-year-old spent the first three months of the year out with an ankle injury, his return at the tail end of the survival campaign coming too late to get him the match fitness to garner his best form.

Then, just when he was getting there this term, his injury curse struck again when he tore his thigh in the opening minutes against Arsenal, ironically the team he made his comeback against last April.

So as Wolves prepare to say farewell to another year, Edwards is hoping 2011 can be a fresh start for him on the fitness front.

"I've got mixed emotions really — it's been strange," said Edwards.

"Playing in the Premier League is the greatest achievement I could ask for, but missing half of 2010 with injury is a real downside.

"It's been hard mentally because I've never really suffered with injuries in my career until this year.

"I hate not being able to play and watching from the sidelines isn't nice.

"It's been a very frustrating time for me because of the injuries, last season especially with my ankle.

"That really knocked me because I was out for almost four months and I'd never had a big injury like that before — it was a massive shock.

"After that, I don't feel I hit top form again last season and this term I've had a few niggling injuries but I got playing again and started to play some of my better stuff five, six, seven games into my run in the team and then I tore my thigh.

"So I still feel I can add more to the team and hopefully if I can stay in the team and remain injury-free then the fans will see the best of me."

Edwards was taken off before the hour in the humiliating home defeat by Wigan on Boxing Day to allow Matt Jarvis the chance to make his comeback.

That 2-1 reverse sent Wolves to the Premier League basement for the first time this season.

But Edwards feels Wolves can put that disappointment behind them to take out their frustrations on a stuttering Liverpool side who have won only two of their last eight games since beating Chelsea 2-0.

"Liverpool is a different kettle of fish — they've had a poor-ish season by their standards so it's a good time to go there and cause an upset," insisted Edwards.

"As Blackpool have proved, it can be done and when we've played away from home against the bigger teams this season we've played well without getting the results.

"So it would be nice to go to somewhere where we definitely feel we can get a result after what happened on Boxing Day.

"Then we've got a big game against West Ham."

His injuries aside, Edwards has continued to develop as a player and despite Wolves' current struggles, the midfielder believes he can improve further.

He has certainly had his fair share of experiences to help him along the way.

Having played in all four divisions, the former Shrewsbury man, who arrived for £675,000 from Luton in January 2008, has operated at wide right, wide left, right-back and as a second striker for Wolves as well as his preferred central midfield role, where he is set to face one of his favourite players, Steven Gerrard, tonight.

"When I've played, I think I've stepped up to the plate and shown people I can play in the Premier League, but I still think there's another couple of steps for me to take yet," said the Wales international.

"I think we're seeing the best of me in bits and bobs."

Wolves are convinced Edwards has what it takes and his efforts were rewarded with a new four-year deal — including a 12-month option in the club's favour — in September after signing a similar contract on significantly less money a year ago.

"I signed a contract before the start of last season and they said 'if you're playing well and you can prove you're a Premier League player then we'll renew it', and they stuck to their word and gave me a new deal at the start of the season," he said.

"I played 20 or so games despite missing four months last season and they came back to me in the summer and made me an offer which I was very grateful for because this is the club where I want to be and it's good to have that bit of security as well so I can play my football."

Edwards is currently firing the bullets from right midfield, and stand-in captain Kevin Foley reckons Steven Fletcher, who could get only his sixth league start for Wolves at Anfield, can thrive on the service.

"The gaffer brought him here for a reason — he scored a good load of goals last year and you can see he's got the touch and is a good talent," said Foley.

"We've had Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Stephen Ward up front in the last two games and they've been excellent, so we've got good competition for places up there now."

Foley admitted Wolves are struggling to bury the 'second season syndrome'.

"It was never going to be easy in the second season but we all knew that," he added.

"It's just frustrating to have performances like we did on Boxing Day."