Interview: Determined Kortney Hause raring to go as he waits for a Wolves chance

The man himself would certainly say that too. Confidence isn't in short supply from a 22-year-old who has rarely failed to impress in a Wolves shirt.

Whether he'll feature against Everton for the season-opener on August 11 is debatable judging on the seven minutes of league action he was restricted to last season (a remarkable figure given his talent, but Willy Boly's form was imperious).

It only takes an injury, though, or perhaps a blinding pre-season campaign, and the centre half could find himself trying to recreate that stellar display against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup last year, when Aguero and co were kept at bay.

Hause showed his potential that night and his self-belief remains undimmed by spending most of last season on the sidelines, something that wasn't helped by an injury during pre-season just as Nuno Espirito Santo took charge.

"Every player wants to play games," Hause told the Express & Star. "If there's a player happy to be on the bench then it's not a player you want around.

"I didn't play many last season, I understand that's football and the manager has his opinion on the team and he's the boss. As players you just need to listen to him, work hard and show you're ready to step in.

"That's what I plan to do. Last season is in the past, I want to look forward to the future. I'm not really a happy guy when I'm not playing! Hopefully I can get into the team.

"It's potentially a big opportunity in the Premier League and I believe I'm ready. If you know me you know I'm confident in my ability.

"Hopefully that chance will come and I'll show people, the fans, the manager that I can do it.

"It could be just a break. Touch wood I don't want any players getting injured but if that happens or if the manager changes things up I can guarantee I'll be ready.

"I've been waiting for a long time. I'm raring to go.

"I'm excited being part of it. No disrespect to the Championship but it's different going to Old Trafford instead of Barnsley. It's the Premier League, the best in the world, so I'm grateful to be a part of it but as a player you always want more.

"Hopefully it'll come."

For the here and now Hause will look to impress in games against top Swiss opposition in Basel (tonight 5pm CEST, 6pm BST) and Young Boys (Saturday 3pm CEST, 2pm BST).

The 22-year-old made a goalscoring start to the summer when equalising in last Saturday's practice match against newly-promoted Swiss top flight side Xamax.

"To be fair the team we played against were decent, no disrespect but I'd never heard of them but they were good, they could play," Hause added.

"It was a good run out. After a long summer break you just want to get back. Training is good but games is where you really enjoy it.

"My goal was a bit scrappy, I got a little tap in – fox in the box! A goal's a goal, that's one of the things I want to improve about my game.

"Training's hard in this heat. We've got the game on Tuesday so Monday morning's session was more giving our legs a bit of a run out before the game, we'll do set pieces and preparation on Tuesday.

"The training pitch is nice and we're being well looked after. The hotel is great, the food is good and the wi-fi too! No complaints.

"Basel and Young Boys are the opposition you want, playing big teams and clubs because you know they're going to be good.

"We know we're good as well so we have to focus and step up to the plate. We know what we're capable of so there's no reason we can't give them a good game.

"Even though it's a friendly we want to win. Winning breeds winning and everything feels better when you win."

From the public eye it looks like Wolves' summer graft has only just begun, but over the summer the players were hard at work keeping their fitness up.

It was a demanding schedule, Hause admits.

"We all got watches from Antonio (Dias, fitness coach) that had runs on there...they were very, very tough.

"For example I did a run with one of my friends who's quite a fit guy – after a minute he had to stop.

"They weren't a joke! And we had a lot of them. Everyone had different amounts to do depending on how many games they played last season, Antonio and Joao (Lapa, rehabilitation coach) wanted to keep me fit throughout the off season so my programme was quite intense, a run every other day.

"You couldn't miss one because it would have shown on the data. But it's paid off – I feel good, strong and fit.

"I'm working hard and recovering, it's all good."