Wolves blog: Carl Ikeme one of our own

The picture of Carl Ikeme and a Nigerian delegation released by their nation’s FA was the first picture we’ve seen of Carl for some time.

Any update about Carl’s condition is great to hear and to see him standing there, smiling and looking well, was heartening.

The photo, in which the group is presenting Carl with a signed Nigeria shirt, is presumably taken from his hospital room in Manchester, where he is receiving treatment.

Nigeria have offered for him to become their guest of honour when the Super Eagles face England at Wembley in a pre-World Cup friendly in June.

With Dave Edwards now having left, Carl and Danny Batth are the two left at the club who embody Wolves.

After a spate of loans, Ikeme managed to assert himself as Wolves’ senior keeper, whilst also managing to gather ten caps for Nigeria since 2015, where he also seems to have a loyal following of supporters.

The big man broke through to become Wolves’ number one in Wolves’ Championship relegation season but it was his part in the League One title win, when Wolves managed 25 clean sheets (22 kept by Carl), where he became endeared to the Wolves fans.

It is not just his goalkeeping ability – it is his down-to- earth, likeable nature and his passion that people are naturally drawn to.

Aside from a bit of jostling from Tomasz Kuszczak, Emi Martinez, Andy Lonergan and Harry Burgoyne, he has nailed down that spot from then on until last summer’s acute leukaemia diagnosis.

We haven’t been given a timescale for Carl and any potential return, but the club showed their support in giving him the number one shirt for the season – and everyone in football, not just Wolves, is rooting for him.

We are now 38 league games into his absence, and it is still hard felt – but whether it is a situation like Sir Jack’s death or Carl’s illness, Wolves fans will always rally round and show their support for one of their own in any way they can.

With eight games to go in the season, you would get very good odds on Wolves not finishing the job they have so remarkably done for eight months – and you would imagine, regardless of whether he is ready to return, Carl Ikeme will next summer be named in Wolves’ squad as a Premier League goalkeeper again.

Whilst this last batch of games for Wolves is a pivotal time, it was important to get a reminder of what really matters and remember Carl’s personal battles with the disease that have been ongoing for the best part of a year.

How nice would it be, if and when Wolves finally do lift the Championship trophy and if it is possible, if Carl is there.

Despite being unable to play a part on the field, Wolves will no doubt have gathered strength in wanting to do Carl proud this season.

There really is only one Carl Ikeme.