Mike Williamson feeling good after his long-awaited Wolves comeback

Williamson, who has yet to feature since moving from Newcastle last January, played 45 minutes for Wolves' under-23s in their 4-0 loss to West Ham at Telford last night.

He came through it unscathed and is now targeting a first-team return.

The 33-year-old told the Express & Star: "It's been an extremely frustrating time. I just want to get out there and play.

"I'm 100 per cent desperate to contribute. It's been the toughest year of my career, it's been very hard.

"Injuries are the hardest thing mentally for anyone to get over. It's just about working hard now and getting stronger.

"Physically I got through it (last night) and I'm feeling okay.

"It was one of those where you feel like you've been out for a year! I've still got to get a few more minutes under my belt to feel like I'm getting up to match speed.

"It's a massive bonus, that was my target, to come through it unscathed and I have done."

Wolves lost 4-0 to an impressive West Ham team. Joe Mason also played 45 minutes after two months out with a hernia problem, while Prince Oniangue continued his injury comeback with a 90-minute run out.

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson also featured for 80 minutes. But with no under-23 game until January 9 it seems an in-house friendly is the next step on the road to fitness for Wolves' returning players.

Williamson added: "It's never nice losing and I wanted to stay on, but for medical reasons it's best to build it up slowly and make sure I stay fit, which is the most important thing.

"Forty-five minutes was the plan to make sure I don't overreach.

"I think there might be an in-house game for more minutes and then we'll see where we go.

"I want to play as many minutes as I can and then it's up to the gaffer when he thinks I'm at the standard to get back in."

The Wolves medical staff tried a variety of options of how to get Williamson back up to fitness when he suffered hamstring and tendon problems during the second half of last season.

Eventually the last resort was taken to put Williamson under the knife. And it's now believed the issue has been solved.

He added: "I've had the operation and the problem's been solved so it's about building up my strength and fitness.

"We were all scratching our heads for a few months but we managed to get to the bottom of it.

"It's about moving forward now."

Williamson played under boss Paul Lambert at Wycombe and the Scot last week said the centre half was a 'terrific, experienced player' whose return would be a big plus to the squad.

What has Lambert said to Williamson?

"It's just about getting my match fitness," the 33-year-old said. "I know what he's about, high intensity, competing, that's what he wants to see," Williamson added.

"So it's about getting me up to that speed."