David Howe will be fit for Wolves' new season

Howe's right foot was caught on the spikes of Martin Smolinski's back wheel during the indoor ice racing at the town's ice rink last weekend.

He had surgery at the Princess Royal Hospital to stitch three large wounds, and Howe is grateful for the treatment.

Howe said: "When I look back at the job they've done for me I cannot thank them all enough. They've saved my season."

Although Howe endured an 18-hour wait in the A&E Department, he is very relieved that the injury did not turn out to be as severe as was first feared.

My foot looks a mess right now, but they said everything was fine David Howe

"There was a time when they warned me I might need skin grafts because the skin may have died around the wounds," he said.

"I felt sick when I heard that because it would have meant I'd be out for months.

"My foot looks a mess right now, but as soon as I came round from the operation they said everything was fine".

Wolverhampton open the season on 17 March with a Craven Shield tie against Coventry at Monmore Green starting at 1930 GMT.