Michael Kightly: Goal was perfect gift

Michael Kightly turned 26 yesterday – but his main present came early.

The Wolves winger has already had the gift he has waited the best part of three years for – his first Premier League strike – which he admitted brought tears to his eyes.

Now the former England Under-21 international is hoping Saturday's stunning first-half performance and goal against Villa is the start of something special.

"I was gutted we lost but scoring that goal was a really emotional moment for me," said Kightly, who battled patella tendonitis in both knees after overcoming foot and hip operations which first sidelined him in March 2009.

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

"It was a long time coming and I've thought about that day for so long.

"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, Haken Alfredson, couldn't have done it any better.

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

"Even speaking about it now is emotional. That goal was a long time coming.

"It's been a long two years – the hardest two years of my life. That made every minute worth it.

"I'm just gutted we didn't get the right result.

"But hopefully I've showed people I'm back and I can get us a few more goals to help us pick up some important points."

Seeing Kightly and Matt Jarvis tearing at Villa on opposite wings in that superb half-hour before the break was a throwback to the Championship days and it sparked an emotional reaction in the stands too as the fans roared their approval.

"We did well in the Championship, now I'm looking to terrorise defenders in the Premier League because I'm as hungry as ever," said Kightly.

"I've had a hard two years and now I'm ready to show people I'm a Premier League footballer. I've proved it in the Championship and now I'm ready to prove it in the Premier League.

"I'm so hungry to do that I can't even speak of how much I want it.

"I hope I can make a big difference to Wolves. I've been at this club a long time now and it's a club I love.

"I want to help us stay in the top flight and I'll do everything in my power to do so."

The 3-2 defeat to Villa dropped Wolves into the bottom three for the first time this season.

But now he is fit and flying again, Kightly wants to do all he can to prevent them sliding back to the Championship.

"Having fought so hard to get to the Premier League, the last thing I want to happen is to go back down to the Championship," he said.

"I haven't quite been match-fit but the loan move to Watford couldn't have gone any better.

"I owe them a heck of a lot. Now I'm back here I want to stay in the Premier League – and I want to stay in the Premier League with Wolves."

While Kightly is back in the groove, his long-term Wolves team-mate Karl Henry has to sit out the next three games after his sending off for kicking out at Marc Albrighton.

"They're big shoes to fill because Karl is a top player and a top lad who's been a vital part of our team for five years now," added Kightly.

"We're going to miss him but someone is going to come in now and have a chance to shine."