Adam Proudlock made a dramatic return to Hillsborough to rub salt into Sheffield Wednesday's relegation wounds and keep Wolves on course for the play-offs.

Proudlock was a short-lived Owls hero, scoring two goals in a month-long loan spell from Wolves.

But he turned villain for the Wednesday fans, scoring two in 18 first-half minutes as he took full advantage of Wolves' striker crisis to keep manager Chris Turner's side entrenched in the relegation zone.

Wolves are now unbeaten in their last six matches, taking eight points out of 12 in the First Division and having reached the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Wolves boss Dave Jones certainly needed Proudlock to continue his run of fine form - only this time in the gold and black - with George Ndah and Nathan Blake still out with hamstring and Achilles injuries respectively.

Jones was given another boost with Dean Sturridge returning from his Achilles problem, playing the final 20 minutes and hammering in the final goal after Kenny Miller had finished off Wednesday with his side's third.

But it was Proudlock who stole the headlines and broke Wednesday hearts, and that after he spurned a 19th-minute opportunity when he just failed to convert at the far post a low right-wing cross through the six-yard box from Shaun Newton.

He made amends five minutes later as Wednesday's defence was scythed open by a slide-rule through ball from Miller, resulting in the young forward crowning his first start since December 2001 by nutmegging advancing goalkeeper Kevin Pressman.

He netted his second four minutes from the break as skipper Paul Ince and Mark Kennedy carved Wednesday open again with a fine interchange of passes before the latter delivered a low ball into Proudlock to sidefoot home from close range.

The interval scoreline was perhaps rough justice on Wednesday who had controlled the opening exchanges of the first half, but only had Alan Quinn's 25-yard drive bundled round the post by Matthew Murray to show for their efforts.

Turner had skipper Darryl Powell and former Wolves midfielder Carl Robinson making their home debuts, and Sunderland's on-loan striker Michael Reddy and winger Brian Barry-Murphy making their first appearances, but it was all in vain.

After the break, hopes of another second-half comeback as against Reading three weeks ago when Wednesday won the game 3-2 after trailing by two goals at the end of the initial 45 minutes, never materialised.

After Lee Naylor was narrowly wide with a left-foot shot and Kennedy had struck the outside of the right-hand post with a fierce drive, Wolves then ended the home side's resistance in the 68th minute.

Kennedy's left-wing cross picked out Miller for a downward 10-yard header which Pressman bundled over his own line, with the veteran beaten again in the 90th minute.

After Miller had a shot blocked on the line by substitute Steve Haslam, and Barry-Murphy had done likewise to deny Proudlock his hat trick, it was left to Sturridge to hand Wednesday their worst home defeat of the season.

Teams

Sheff Wed Pressman, Barry-Murphy, Westwood (Haslam 74), Maddix, Monk, Powell, Robinson, Quinn, Johnston, Kuqi, Reddy (Owusu 74).

Subs Not Used: Evans, Soltvedt, Crane.

Wolverhampton Murray, Naylor, Irwin, Lescott, Butler, Cameron, Ince, Newton (Sturridge 64), Kennedy (Andrews 90), Miller (Rae 90), Proudlock.

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Clyde.

Booked: Ince.

Goals: Proudlock 24, 42, Miller 67, Sturridge 89.

Att: 21,381

Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).