Michael Kightly has said that he hopes a loan spell away from Wolverhampton Wanderers will help his standing at the club.

The injury-plagued winger made just 14 appearances for Wolves after their promotion to the top flight in 2009.

While he has now returned to fitness, the 25-year-old concedes that he needs more pitch time before he regains his match sharpness.

"I need to be realistic and I can't just switch it on - I need to go out and play games," he told the club's offical website. "[Manager Mick McCarthy] is aware of that and I'm aware of that so hopefully I can get that opportunity.

"I need six or seven games on the bounce to get that sharpness back because I'm fit, but there's a difference between being fit and match fit and I'm not quite there yet.

"I've been out for virtually two seasons and I need to play games so hopefully I can get that soon. I believe that with a run of games I can get there. Physically, I feel the best I have for two years - every injury I've had is fine and I feel positive about that."

Kightly had appeared destined for a loan move to Nottingham Forest, but the opportunity was frustrated by the resignation of manager Steve McClaren.

"Forest is a massive club and I'd have liked to have gone there and played some games for them," he explained. "But it didn't work out to be the case and hopefully something else will pop up and I can go somewhere to play some games.

"I feel if I can do that, I can get back to the best form I showed for Wolves two years ago. My last little bit of rehabilitation is playing some games on the trot somewhere."

Wolves, who are currently 14th in the table, will return to action with a trip to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, October 16.