David Edwards fears returning to Shrewsbury

The Wales international is waiting in trepidation for the release of the Football League fixtures on June 19 to discover when he could make his first playing return to his hometown club.

Edwards made over 130 appearances for Town after coming through the club's youth set-up alongside England goalkeeper Joe Hart, making his debut against Scunthorpe in 2003.

His departure for Luton in 2007 was tinged with some acrimony after then-boss Gary Peters left him out of Salop's League Two play-off games over a contract wrangle.

But that has never affected the Pontesbury-raised player's fondness for the club he has supported since childhood.

And while he will be desperate to help Wolves make a swift return to the Championship, the 27-year-old suspects the Shropshire date will be poignantly overwhelming for him.

He admitted: "I can't say I'm looking forward to it, because Shrewsbury is the club that I have supported all my life.

"It would be like telling a lifelong Wolves fan that they have got to go out and play against their club.

"But I'm a professional and I've always known this was likely to happen one day. It will be an interesting day and I'm sure my family and friends will enjoy it.

"More than anything, I just want to be fit and playing ."

A broken foot dashed the midfielder's hopes of contributing to Wolves' battle against the drop and he was forced to watch their fall from grace under Dean Saunders in the closing two months of the season.

He said: "Hopefully I will be fit for pre-season. I just want to do everything to get us back into the Championship.

"But I have played in every division from the Conference upwards, so I know what League One is like. And if people think we're going to turn up to places and win 4-0 or 5-0, they are wrong.

"It will be about going to those tough away grounds and grinding out 1-0 wins."