With a new goalkeeper linked, are Wolves going to make a ruthless decision with John Ruddy?

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Wolverhampton Wanderers are top of the Championship and can start preparing for life in the Premier League next season.

Though Newcastle United now look good for securing their status as a Premier League team next season, one of the main criticisms of Rafa Benitez’s side over the last few months is that they looked like a Championship team playing in the top flight.

Despite cruising to automatic promotion, and winning the second tier title to boot, many of the Magpies’ star men struggled to make that step up.

So Wolves, who look certain to follow in Newcastle’s footsteps and lift the Championship trophy in May, should keep this in mind as they prepare for a long-awaited return to the promised land.

And, on paper, replacing John Ruddy would look harsh. The 31-year-old former England international goalkeeper has kept a quite remarkable 19 clean sheets in 39 games for Wolves since arriving on a free from Norwich City last summer.

But according to The Sun, Ruddy’s position could come under threat with Wolves on the lookout for a new glovesman. The Celtic loanee Scott Bain, who is out of contract this summer, is understood to be in consideration.

And replacing Ruddy could be the sort of difficult decision that Wolves need to make if they are to ensure the step up from one division to the next goes as smoothly as possible – necessarily evil if you will.

Yes, Ruddy has proven himself in the Premier League before but it is now six years since he won his one and only England cap and he is simply not quite at the same level these days.

Newcastle failed to upgrade their options last summer and nearly paid the price. The signs suggest that Wolves will not make the same mistake.