Michael Kightly

Michael John Kightly (born 24 January 1986) is an England Association football midfielder, who plays for Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C..

Early years

Born in Basildon, Kightly played schoolboy football for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. but was released and subsequently picked up by Michael Kightly hometown team, non-league Basildon United F.C.. Michael Kightly stay was short and was soon back in professional football playing for Southend United F.C., where Michael Kightly made Michael Kightly league debut on 3 May 2003 in a 1-0 defeat at Exeter City F.C..

Although featuring in all their cup games of this time, Michael Kightly made only 13 league appearances over 3 different seasons for them. Michael Kightly was loaned out to Farnborough Town F.C. in October 2004 and released at the end of the season by Southend United F.C. manager Steve Tilson.

Grays Athletic

Conference National side Grays Athletic F.C. signed Kightly, where Michael Kightly scored 15 league goals in Michael Kightly first season, and won the FA Trophy. Michael Kightly began the 2006-07 season still with Grays, and had scored 10 goals by November. Such form caught the eye of scouts at Football League Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., to whom Michael Kightly completed a two-month emergency loan move on 17 November 2006.

Michael Kightly would subsequently return to play against Grays Athletic F.C. for Wolves in a pre-season friendly, which was a condition of the permanent deal later made between the clubs.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Kightly scored Michael Kightly first ever league goal to earn a 1-0 victory at Queens Park Rangers F.C. in December 2006. Michael Kightly form at Grays Athletic F.C. led Michael Kightly to be dubbed "The Ryan Giggs of non-league football", and it was reported that Sir Alex Ferguson was interested in signing Kightly for Manchester United F.C.. After scoring two goals in five games, Michael Kightly loan move was made permanent when Michael Kightly signed a two-and-a-half year contract for a nominal fee on New Years Day 2007.

Michael Kightly became a first-team regular in the remainder of the season, and Michael Kightly six goals helped the club into a play-off position. Michael Kightly performances made Michael Kightly a fans' favourite, ending up as runner-up for Wolves' Player of the Year 2006-07, losing out to goalkeeper Matt Murray. After a play-off defeat denied promotion, it was reported that Michael Kightly was being tracked by clubs such as , Charlton Athletic F.C., Tottenham Hotspur F.C., and .
Kightly ended such speculation by signing a new four-year deal with Wolves in June 2007.

Michael Kightly first full season with the club was severely hampered by a persistent ankle injury suffered in November 2007, from which Michael Kightly twice tried to return to first team football, eventually undergoing surgery in February 2008. Kightly had further injuries that kept Michael Kightly out of the Wolves side, finally returning to play in the final four fixtures as the club narrowly missed the play-off places on goal difference. Michael Kightly signed an improved new four-year deal with the club in June 2008.

Michael Kightly was a virtual ever-present during the 2008–09 in English football, contributing 8 goals, as Wolves led the promotion race. However, Michael Kightly campaign has been prematurely halted by a broken metatarsal sustained during a reserve game in March 2009. Michael Kightly returned to pre-season training over the summer but will not be fully fit for the start of the club's return to the Premier League.

International career

Kightly was called into the England national under-21 football team squad in August 2007 for a friendly against Romania national under-21 football team and went on to make Michael Kightly debut, playing the first half of the game.

Honours

- FA Trophy: 2006
- Football League Championship (II): 2009