Iwelumo looking to the future

Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo is determined to use his Scotland recall to crowbar another Premier League chance and end his 'rut' at Molineux.

Iwelumo is currently on loan at Bristol City to get sharper after struggling to pin down game time with Mick McCarthy's men.

The much-travelled target man has already matched his three starts with Wolves this season in two weeks at Bristol City after finally regaining fitness, following an injury nightmare with damaged medial knee ligaments then a twice broken foot.

It hasn't taken him long to get among the goals again either, after scoring his first since March in Sunday's 2-1 win over Albion.

The 31-year-old was back at Compton this week to receive another boost with an international recall for Craig Levein's first game in charge of Scotland for Wednesday's friendly against the Czech Republic at Hampden.

Iwelumo now plans to use his international return to help Wolves beat the drop.

He said: "It's great for me to be in Craig Levein's first squad. Hopefully my loan is about helping Bristol City move out of the rut they were in and helping me out of the rut I was in.

"I've got two more games left down there, then hopefully will come back and show what I'm about. We've got a big squad here and everyone brings in different attributes, so I've just got to keep myself right and keep myself positive.

"I've just got to get my head down, stay injury-free and if I get a chance against the Czech Republic on Wednesday make sure I put on a good performance.

"I'm a Wolves player and we're sitting in a decent position in the Premier League, with a lot of points still to play for. I want to stay in this league like everyone else in the squad so if I can do that then I will.

"If I did come back after the month we'd be getting into the crucial stage of the season. The games I've played for Wolves I think I've done OK. I've been a presence and linked up well and won my aerial battles.

"What I was perhaps missing is that sharpness in front of goal to be selfish and try to get on the scoresheet. That's why the decision was taken to send me out and I was talking to Gary Johnson about how it would be good for Bristol City and good for me if it clicked.

"I've got three lots of 90 minutes under my belt now and got my goal as well, so I'm delighted. The last goal I'd scored had been Charlton last March and I've been out with injuries since.

"It's just good to be back and getting games and I feel like I'm getting back to myself again – I feel like I've gone through a hurdle and I'm just buzzing.

"I've gone out on loan and have got into the Scotland squad, which I don't think I would have done without playing these games for Bristol City. If I'm doing the right things at club level then hopefully that Scotland door will open for me.

"I needed games and a little regular run to get to that stage. But at the same time I'm enjoying it at Bristol City, I'm getting my games and we'll just have to see what happens."

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy also believes the man who scored 16 goals last season can have a say at the top level.

The manager said: "Chris scored with a 30 yarder, so the lads tell me! That's what he's gone out for, to play some games. He went with the endorsement from me to get some football - because he wasn't going to get it here - and come back at the end of the month and get involved in the team.

"He's had three games and will be feeling a hell of a lot better about himself."

Iwelumo believes Levein's preference for a little and large attacking strike partnership could mean his international career gets a fresh lease of life, after two caps under former boss George Burley.

He said: "From what I've heard Craig Levein often likes to use a target man and a big man, little man partnership so why not take that into the international scene?

"That could be a positive for me. There are only four strikers in there although James McFadden, who's classed as a midfielder, can also play there.

"I think you've got different types of strikers. There's Kris Boyd, who I'd say is the poacher, Kenny Miller, who's a workhorse and will get goals, and Steven Fletcher, who's a good all-round footballer who's scored in the Premier League this season.

"I'm probably the target man in amongst them. There are a few of us about, like Lee Miller at Middlesbrough and Garry O'Connor at Birmingham.

"We'll all be looking to get into the squads and I'm delighted I'm in the first one."