Mick McCarthy today prepared for Stefan Maierhofer's first potential action in a Wolves shirt with some words of promise: "He'll add another string to our bow."

The boss has included Stefan in the squad for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League trip to Blackburn after a whirlwind 11 days when the striker has completed his move to Rapid Vienna and featured in two internationals for Austria in which he has also plundered his first goal.

The 27-year-old returned to Compton yesterday afternoon for a 'warm-down' in the gym ahead of today joining his team-mates for the first time.

So what does the 6ft 7in frontman bring to the Molineux party?

"Probably his little jinking runs in wide areas and beating full backs - that's something he's particularly good at," jokes the boss.

"But seriously he's a mobile striker and it's not just about his height.

"He's got a really good goalscoring record over the last couple of seasons and he can also hold the ball up and bring people into play - he'll be a really good player for us.

"Stefan is a 27-year-old international player - he's not someone we've brought in thinking he needs to improve here although of course we hope he does improve.

"He's a player who has been scoring regularly for his club and also got one for Austria at the weekend."

'The Austrian Peter Crouch' is a label from which it will be difficult for Stefan to escape over the next few weeks and months.

While Mick isn't one to compare players in such a respect, he accepts it's not exactly a derogatory comparison.

"We wouldn't want to compare him to Peter Crouch but I know people will do that because of his height," added the boss.

"What I would say is look at how Peter changed the game completely when he came on in Tottenham's game against Birmingham.

"They just couldn't deal with him, but Peter is a footballer as well.

"Stefan adds another string to our bow, and gives us something we haven't had since losing Chris (Iwelumo) to injury.

"It's about winning balls in the air and causing problems physically - Sam (Vokes) can do that but he's still learning the game.

"Doyler, Sylvan and Keogh pose a different sort of threat, and it's nice to have some variety."

Sylvan, Chris and Kevin Foley are continuing their rehabilitations from injury but are all now training outside as they close in on a possible return.

Michael Kightly is now training with the first team group with a possible competitive return pencilled in for the reserves trip to West Ham on Tuesday.