Carl Ikeme: My time has come at last

Carl Ikeme insists his days of being a loan ranger are over – and he wants to be Wolves' No.1 keeper for good.

With Dorus De Vries injured and possibly going to Liverpool plus Wayne Hennessey out injured until October at the earliest, he has a great chance to prove himself first choice in tomorrow's Capital One Cup against Aldershot.

His previous opening also came when the team was in the Championship and he kept Hennessey out for 12 games until his injury curse struck.

Handed another chance, he feels readier than ever after 26 games on loan at Middlesbrough and Doncaster – his biggest tally in one campaign.

"Before last season there always seemed to be a question mark over my fitness but I felt I put that to bed," he said. "The only reason I got injured was down to a freak incident (broken finger at Doncaster) – it was nothing to do with my body.

"The more games you get, the more experience you have and I've always wanted to play for Wolves.

"The loans serve their purpose but I want to be at this club and I don't want to be going out on loan now.

"I'm 26 now and I always feel it's my big year when I come back to pre-season.

"But I'm always striving for better and I really hope this is it this time."

Ikeme made his senior debut against Aldershot on October 16, 2004, in his first loan spell, at Accrington Stanley in the Conference.

He kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw and would like another tomorrow, but Wolves are interested in ex-Hearts keeper and Slovakia international Marian Kello.

Ikeme admits there is uncertainty with Michael Kightly going to Stoke and bids in for Steven Fletcher – who has put in a transfer request – Matt Jarvis, De Vries and Ronald Zubar.

"It's a big year for us – there's a lot of uncertainty around the place but everyone wants to get the season started," he said.

"Kights has gone and I wish him all the best at Stoke but we have to move on as a club – we can't moan about the fact he isn't here.

"I know he had his injury problems but I saw what he went through and he always tried his hardest for the club to get fit.

"He felt it was time to move on. Obviously we're going to miss a player like Kightly and we'd rather have him than not.

"But we've got other good players and good youngsters coming through as well so hopefully we don't miss him too much."