SUNDERLAND'S Paul Butler will complete a £1m move to Wolves today after spending the past month on loan at Molineux.

Butler was due to return to the Stadium of Light this week, but Wolves manager Colin Lee set up a permanent deal yesterday after being impressed by the former Rochdale and Bury defender.

Lee must still agree personal terms with Butler, but the player is ready to quit Sunderland after fading from the first team picture.

He played in Sunderland's opening three games of the season, but has since been squeezed out by the partnership between Jody Craddock and Emerson Thome.

With Stanislav Varga fit again following a serious leg injury, Butler knows he is the fourth choice for places at the centre of Peter Reid's defence.

In contrast, Butler, 28, was virtually an automatic selection in his first two years at the club following a £1m move from Bury.

Reid wanted to sign a powerful, uncomplicated centre-back in the wake of Sunderland's failure to beat Charlton in the play-off final, and Butler fitted the bill.

There were doubts over his ability to handle the extra pace of the Premiership, but Butler settled in well alongside Steve Bould last season.

Manchester-born Butler, qualified for the Republic of Ireland through marriage, was called up for his first international against the Czech Republic ten months ago.

But his confidence was dented and he lost his place in the squad after being give a torrid time by the giant Czech striker Jan Koller.

He has been back to his best while at Wolves, and has helped them climb towards the middle of the First Division table.

Carsten Fredgaard has pleaded with Reid to let him stay at Bolton until the end of the season.

The Danish winger has been on loan at the Reebok Stadium for the past month and said: "I like it here.

"I know I have no future at Sunderland. Peter Reid has told me he can't use me in the first team, so I would like to see the loan extended, preferably to the end of the season."

l David Batty is poised to knock on Leeds manager David O'Leary's door asking for a first-team recall after fearing his career was over.

Batty this week took another step towards ending a year of hell by playing in a reserve game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, with a place on the bench for tomorrow's Premiership clash with Sunderland in his sights.

An Achilles operation in the summer finally cured the injury which had been exacerbated by painkillers designed to help a heart problem sustained after breaking a rib.