Andy Keogh returns with a point to prove
First it was Mark Davies, then Adlene Guedioura…now Wolves fans will be hoping Andy Keogh isn't the latest former player to come back and haunt them.
Keogh is set to make the 300th League appearance of his career in his first return to Molineux since joining tonight's opponents Millwall from Wolves for £500,000 in January.
The Ireland international's return comes hot on the heels of two recent gold-and-black stars who have scored against their old club.
Like Davies and Guedioura, 26-year-old Keogh has made the most of his new surroundings. While Guedioura broke Wolves fans' hearts with his winner for Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Davies bagged a late equaliser to earn Bolton a 2-2 draw on October 23. Now Keogh is back and his performances certainly suggest he is ready to remind his old club of his capabilities.
One thing he has added to his game since his time at Wolves is goals. Ten in 18 games to the end of last season confirmed his place in the fans' affections at The New Den.
And, although he hasn't continued with as much fluency in front of goal this term yet – he has four this season – his performances have been excellent, according to boss Kenny Jackett, who singled out Keogh for special praise after their impressive 2-0 win over Blackburn on Saturday.
On-loan Albion striker Chris Wood and James Henry, who is suspended tonight, scored stunning goals in the second half of a tight encounter at Ewood Park as the Lions charged into the play-off places.
But Jackett said Keogh, who had two goals disallowed in the first half, was the stand-out performer.
"Keogh was exceptional," he said. "James Henry and Chris Wood will get the plaudits for two very good goals and defensively we kept a clean sheet. Keogh was our leader and did a lot of unselfish work that took us to a very good victory."
Keogh spent time out of the starting line-up earlier in the season after his partner Natalie lost their baby.
But after several games coming off the bench, he replaced Darius Henderson for the 2-1 win against Derby on November 10 and hasn't looked back since, playing in three successive wins. Derby is, of course, the team Keogh effectively fired Wolves to promotion against in April 2009, his brace and bare-chested run to the delirous Wolves fans behind the goal remembered forever.
But those memories are as distant as Keogh and his former team are, with Wolves in desperate need of a result after eight games without a win.
And the contrasts between Keogh's past and present clubs could not be more stark as they prepare to meet tonight.
Victory at Ewood made it 11 games unbeaten for Millwall as the Lions climbed into the final play-off place.
Their record of six wins and five draws has earned them 23 points, 14 more than Wolves from the same period, after Stale Solbakken's side have picked up just two wins and three draws.
Jackett added: "It was a great win. Blackburn are a side I feel have fantastic players, as good as any in the Championship, and an experienced new management team. As a manager I was looking forward to Ewood Park – they are the type of games you want be involved in."
Along with Keogh, Wolves welcome back their homegrown left back Scott Malone tonight. The Rowley Regis-born former England Under-19s international is expected to be on the bench after his £700,000 move from Bournemouth in the summer.