Matt Murray: Now it's time for Wolves to back up the promise

Now it starts for real. Kenny Jackett has talked a good game and the new Wolves head coach has got this great club buzzing and believing again.

But on Saturday at Deepdale against Preston North End, a fellow founder member of the Football League, it is time to walk the walk.

The start of any football season is always exciting. Nobody expected Wolves to be kicking off in League One, but we are where we are. As the biggest game in town in this league, we are facing 46 cup finals. The players must embrace the pressure; relish it, feed off it.

I was encouraged by the Molineux performance against Real Betis who, let's not forget, finished seventh in La Liga. There was the attacking football promised by Jackett.

Yes, there were some sloppy mistakes that were ruthlessly punished, but I was particularly impressed with Danny Batth in the centre of defence.

It was great to see the youngsters given their chance. Lee Evans did well alongside David Davis, while Jack Price, when he came on, showed he is a talented, quick player. It is an inexperienced central midfield in that vital battleground and the fans, who were excellent last Saturday, have an important role to play, keeping young players' heads up when they make the odd inevitable mistake.

It looks as if Wolves will play 4-4-1-1 with David Edwards in the hole behind Leigh Griffiths.

Carl Ikeme is now favourite to start in goal, but it was fantastic to see Wayne Hennessey back playing at Molineux after his serious injury.

After recent seasons it was also refreshing to see someone so confident in front of goal. Griffiths, as his record in Scotland shows, is clearly a natural goalscorer and given he has spent most of his Wolves career out on loan at Hibernian feels like a new signing. The Scotland striker took his chance clinically and has great touch and pace. He could become a real fans' favourite in the No.9 shirt.

We don't know how long Bakary Sako will remain at Wolves, but in the meantime let's make full use of his skills.

Sako showed glimpses of what he can do last Saturday, bringing the width Jackett wants. He is ambitious to play Premier League football and the best shop window is to play well for Wolves.

Some fans are worried we have not been active enough in the transfer market. But it is good to see Jackett giving the kids a chance, while the signing of Sam Ricketts as club captain provides a backbone of experience.

I personally think this squad is good enough to go straight back up and Jackett and Joe Gallen have already got them well organised.

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A word about Karl Henry, who I obviously know well. Karl had some great times at the club and made a big contribution as player and captain.

He is a local lad, so to captain Wolves was to live the dream.

I hope fans, when they sit back and reflect on his career, think: "You know what, he put in some great years for us and we wish him well."

Karl has a lot of affection for the club, but the time was right to move on and he'll be giving his all at QPR. That's football. Good luck, pal.

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The pre-season is also the silly season. Transfer rumours abound, with the futures of Wayne Rooney, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale dominating the headlines.

Talking of Real Madrid's pursuit of Bale, a page in the match programme last Saturday took us back to Molineux in 1957 when Wolves beat the mighty Real Madrid, the reigning European champions and with legends such as Alfredo di Stefano in their team, 3-2 in front of 55,000.

It's a long way back to those dizzy heights, but let's get going at Deepdale – and perhaps Leigh Griffiths can score a goal to match George Ndah's away to Preston 10 years ago in a game I played in. Who remembers that sensational solo effort? Now that would be some start.

Did I mention I always kept a clean sheet at Deepdale?

• Matt Murray is a Wolves and What House? ambassador