United States international John Ruddy has stressed that he won’t hand the number one role to summer signing Rui Patricio without a fight. The 31-year-old was named in the Championship Team of the Year last term after keeping 24 clean sheets for the Wolves in 45 appearances and he is now prepared to fight for the starting position alongside Patricio.

Speaking to The Express and Star, he said: “It is what it is. Just because they've brought a goalkeeper in doesn't mean it's the end of me. I've come to this club with an ambition to get promoted last season and my ambition was to play in the Premier League.We're very close to that. As long as the other goalkeeper's coming in with the same desire and attitude that I've got then it can only be good for the club. I'm looking forward to the challenge.”

Patricio has an unquestionably been a standout performer for club and country over the past couple of seasons and based on this, the Portuguese is likely to be drafted into the first XI at Wolves ahead of Ruddy. Nevertheless, Wolves find themselves in a heap after recruiting the shot-stopper with reports suggesting that Sporting could demand as much as £50m for their former graduate.

Wolves had initially sought to pursue the goalkeeper by discussing a transfer fee with Sporting but their initial £18m offer was turned down by the Lisbon giants. Thereafter, Patricio made the surprise decision to terminate his Sporting contract citing the vandalism at the club’s training ground in April and this allowed him to join the Wolves on a free transfer.
Both teams have now taken the case to FIFA to be resolved and the next few weeks could give a fair reflection of what the Wolves need to pay for the Euro 2016 winner. Patricio was most-recently part of the Portugal side at the World Cup where they were ousted at the round of 16 stage.