Richard Stearman treating last few games 'like a trial' for his Wolves future

After nine games on the sidelines, the 29-year-old was thrown straight into the starting line-up for Easter Monday's visit to Elland Road.

And his performance helped Wolves keep a valuable clean sheet in their shock 1-0 victory away at play-off hopefuls Leeds.

Stearman is on a season-long loan from Fulham but still has a year left on his contract at Craven Cotttage.

Boss Paul Lambert needs to trim his large squad this summer but the centre-back hopes he won't be one of the players deemed surplus to requirements.

And the long-serving defender who's already played more than 250 times in gold and black is hoping to eventually follow Dave Edwards into the 300 club.

"That would be great," said Stearman. "I am playing now to try and extend my stay at Wolves. It has almost become like a trial period for me now.

"I have got to prove myself every day in training and if I get a chance, make sure I take it and show I deserve a place at this club. I have done it 250-odd times already and I want to continue to add to that.

"All I can do is play with my heart on my sleeve, play well, and do the most that I can to try and get a new deal – we will see."

Stearman was dropped during a run of five defeats, and then five wins on the bounce kept him out of the team.

But Lambert turned to him and Mike Williamson at Elland Road, and he's hoping he did enough to keep his place in the starting line-up.

"The boys have been doing very well and I haven't been able to get in the side," he said. "I knew I had to train hard, keep myself right and prepare properly and hope that I might get another chance before the season was out. That happened against Leeds and I was delighted to get back in.

"I think everyone knows that regardless of whether I am starting, on the bench, or in the stand, I will always give my all for the badge and for this club.

"It gave me an opportunity at Leeds to stick the shirt on again which was a great feeling and thankfully we won."

And Stearman paid tribute to Edwards, who reached 300 Wolves games against Leeds.

"That is an incredible achievement and you have to take your hat off to him and congratulate him," he said.

"He might not be the most popular player from the stands but to make 300 appearances is fantastic.

"Inside the dressing room we value his input so much, it is vital. Every manager who has been here has constantly played him and that is credit to the work he does, both on and off the ball. He might not do eight stepovers and stick one in the top corner but his work is invaluable to what the team do."