Chris Iwelumo today revealed the inspiration for his decision to return to fight for a place in the Wolves team for the crucial survival battle, declaring: "This is my club."

 

The big striker enjoyed an impressive month's loan at Bristol City, building up his match fitness and scoring twice in seven games as he got some regular football under his belt following an injury-hit ten months.

 

While grateful to the Robins for the opportunity, and indeed flattered that both they and other clubs were interested in taking him for a further loan, after speaking to Wolves boss Mick McCarthy the 31-year-old Scottish international opted to return to Molineux to try and further his claims.

 

"I think everyone knows how I feel about Wolves," he said.

 

"This is my club and the only reason I went out on loan was to get fitter and sharper for Wolves.

 

"Of course I take it as a compliment that Bristol City took me and wanted to keep me on and that other clubs were interested

"I went there for a month just to try and get fit and am feeling a lot better for it.

"I'm very grateful to Bristol City for giving me that chance.

 

"I said to Gary (Johnson) that it's definitely been a positive for me and hopefully has been a positive for him and the team and we can now both move on and do our thing."

 

The initial aim of the temporary switch for Iwelumo was to build up that match sharpness, vital given that since injuring his knee at Birmingham last April, followed by a pre-season broken metatarsal which flared up again later, he had made just three Wolves starts plus a further seven appearances from the bench.

 

It appears to have proved extremely worthwhile.

 

"I'd spoken with the gaffer before I went out because I needed to build up my match sharpness and wasn't in a position where I was going to get games at Wolves," says Iwelumo.

 

"Reserve games are good but can only take you so far.

 

"We all know what the Championship is all about, it's a very physical league and the games come thick and fast .

 

"It allowed me to get my legs and get a couple of goals as well.

 

"I've come back in a lot better shape than when I went out and that was the whole point.

 

"I'd been injured for a while and had come back and played reserve games and mainly come off the bench for the first team and played a few minutes.

 

"I'd started a couple of matches but you just need a run of games and playing 90s and that's what I've done at Bristol City.

 

 

"I'm delighted and have come back feeling good and ready for the challenges ahead.

 

"I've missed everyone here and it's just great to be back seeing the boys again."

 

Iwelumo is however well aware of the battle ahead to win a place in the team.

 

He made his Barclays Premier League debut as a substitute against Aston Villa earlier in the season, and now faces the task of trying to force his way into the matchday squad for Saturday's return (12.45pm kick off).

 

"There are some good strikers here and everyone wants to play and everyone wants to start," he admits.

 

"Doyler's been doing great in that lone striker's role and with the way the formation is working I think the gaffer will probably stick with it.

 

"But it's then down to the rest of us to do what we can to try and give him a headache for selection which I'm sure is what he'll want."

 

In returning to the Compton training ground on Monday morning Iwelumo bumped into Stefan Maierhofer who was just setting off to head down the M5 in the opposite direction.

 

Maierhofer's spell at Ashton Gate began with 80 minutes in a 3-2 defeat at Plymouth last night, and Iwelumo is confident the Austrian will also reap the rewards of some regular football.

 

"When you're on the fringes and waiting for your chance it can be difficult and becomes a mental test more than anything," he said.

 

"To go out and get some games and feel wanted again and play regularly gives you a massive boost to your confidence.

 

 

"Hopefully the Big Man will go down there and get some games under his belt, get some goals and help the team to some wins.

 

"If he does that he'll feel like a new player again.

 

"I think that's the main point of a loan.

 

"Stefan's still got a long time left on his contract so he's not going out to try and win himself a move or put himself in the shop window.

 

"He's got to do out and do well for himself and for Bristol City.

 

"Good luck to him - he's a good lad and is very well-liked around the place.

 

"Hopefully he'll get some games with Bristol City and 'rip it up'."

 

For now though Iwelumo's focus is understandably on matters closer to home, namely those crucial final nine games of the Barclays Premier League season.

 

Having done his homework by sitting through a re-run of Saturday's important win at Burnley, the burly frontman is hopeful Wolves can make the most of their survival chances now being in their own hands.

 

 

"It was a massive result at Burnley, a 12-pointer I reckon!

 

"I've watched the whole game since and the boys did well.

"It showed the character of the team we've got here - we've always been united and are not scared of any challenge or obstacle that is put in front of us.

 

"I think that showed in the way the lads played on Saturday and we've got to approach every game in the same manner.

"It's in our hands now and we've got to go out and fight and scrap for every single point that is available to make sure we stay in the league.

 

"The way it's going it might even be the lowest points total ever to stay up this season which might work in our favour.

 

"Maybe another three wins will do it for the teams that are down there and it's still in our hands."