Tony Daley told his job at Wolves is safe

New manager Dean Saunders insists both men have an important role to play in his new backroom set-up. As former Aston Villa team-mates, Saunders and Daley know each other well.

And the manager is full of respect for the work the one-time England and Wolves winger has done over the last five-and-a-half years since returning to Molineux under Mick McCarthy.

Saunders said: "Tony Daley is doing the same job and Mal is helping Tony, who is a valuable member of my team.

"I played with him and he's excellent at his job. There's no problem – they are both brilliant at their jobs.

"There is a backroom team here and I have already seen in three days that they are very good.

"Mal will assist on that side of things and take individuals – people such as Stephen Hunt, who maybe need constant attention, strengthening and one-on-one work.

"I've brought in Mal to go down that route. Some players just don't do enough work on their core strength and legs.

"Your stomach decides how your body works. If your core and your legs aren't strong, you can't play three games a week without getting injured.

"If your core, legs and glutes are strong, that will help you stop getting injured. Mal also controls what they eat – he's brilliant on the nutrition side of things, to help repair muscles after they've been worked."

Saunders believes Purchase's input should help the squad become fitter and less injury prone.

The Wolves boss said: "If you ask the owners of Doncaster and Wrexham, the medical bills were cut 10-fold because of Mal's work.

"He keeps players fit by making sure they do the right amount of training and making sure they are strong in their legs.

"We have got 40 players and it's difficult for Tony, because he's been trying to keep an eye on all of them.

"Sometimes I'll want Tony with me so we've got other people in the medical room, but those two are brilliant at their jobs.

"They will, eventually, be in the Premier League."