Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo believes the club’s current strikers will rise to the challenge of competition at Molineux next season.

The Scotland international, who scored 16 goals in the Championship title-winning campaign, is already competing for a place with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Andy Keogh and Sam Vokes.

Academy forwards Ashley Hemmings, Kyle Bennett and Sam Winnall have been promoted to the pro ranks.

Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Reading’s Kevin Doyle has been linked with a summer move to Molineux in the last few days, after the Royals failed to win promotion at the first attempt.

Manchester United youngster Fraizer Campbell, currently on loan at Tottenham, is one of several on Wolves’ radar with a view to signing him on a year-long loan.

There will be plenty of others too before the big kick-off on August 15, but Iwelumo’s attitude is ‘bring it on.’

He said: “We’ve got Sylvan, Sam Vokes, Andy Keogh and myself and I’m sure the gaffer will have his eyes on a couple more, if it is a couple.

“But any new faces will be welcomed with open arms . Competition is a healthy thing – no one here is scared of it.

“Keogh and ‘Vokesey’ have been awesome, different class.”

Iwelumo believes the ‘shadow strikeforce’ proved their ability to step up during the promotion run-in when the side’s three leading scorers – himself, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Michael Kightly – were all out injured.

Over Easter, Andy Keogh and Sam Vokes replaced the main two strikers and moved back into the limelight to impressive effect.

Vokes netted in the 3-0 success against his boyhood team Southampton, before Keogh scored two superbly-taken goals in the 3-2 comeback win at Derby three days later.

‘Big Chris’ recalled: “The gaffer asked the question – with Sylvan, myself and Kightly out about – who was going to step up and make the headlines.

“Vokes and Keogh stepped up, Jonah (Dave Jones) stepped up and fair play to them all, that’s what it’s all about.

“I’ve said from day one it’s a squad game, so everyone stepped up and did their bit.”

The 30-year-old believes Wolves have already achieved ‘something special’ by winning the Championship.

But the Scotland international claims staying in the Premier League would be even bigger.

He said: “What we’ve done this season is fantastic, but no one will be resting on their laurels and let this achievement be enough.

“Everyone wants to achieve something special and staying in the best league in the world is a massive achievement.

“So that’s the main thing on the agenda.”

Iwelumo is now recuperating and enjoying some well-earned rest after a long, gruelling Championship season.

He is well down the road to recovering from medial knee ligament damage sustained in the 2-0 defeat at Birmingham on April 6.

But the target man admits it hurt not being involved in the last few games.

He said: “It did hurt not to be involved towards the end of the season, after we’d done so well for so long.

“To watch the boys come in for strappings every morning and then go out training is difficult.

“You still feel part of it, but you miss out on the banter out on the training pitch, in the warm-up and what have you.

“That’s a massive part of being a footballer and it does get you a little bit down, but there’s always a positive side and the boys did fantastically well over the last few games.”

Iwelumo has finished his best season in football – 16 goals, a Championship title winner’s medal and elevation into the international scene after winning his first two Scotland caps.

As he now has time to reflect on his achievements, he can’t help but think of how his past and present clubs have gone in vastly different directions.

For while Wolves were promoted, the club where Iwelumo was an ever-present top scorer 12 months ago were relegated, as Charlton nosedived further.

He said: “It’s incredible – it must be the effect I have! I never saw Charlton going that way.

“I had a chat with the then manager Alan Pardew before I came here, he wanted to go a certain way and it wasn’t something I agreed with.

“I think because he’d spent so much money on Luke Varney and brought in Andy Gray, they were going to be his number one strikeforce.

“They played together in the last game of the season and did well, so I guess that made an impression.

“Everyone has their own views, but I was their top scorer and the only player to be involved in every game last season.

“You could see certain things from pre-season, but all through the summer, I knew that this (move to Wolves) was on the cards and I wanted to go.

“I got wind of that and used it as a kind of leverage to get away, so  his hands were tied really.

“So I felt I needed to move and needed a change.”

Iwelumo believes he has made the perfect move to Wolves and, after starting his League career in the Midlands with Stoke, wants to end it here too.

He said: “I think you’ve got to be a bit selfish sometimes and do what’s right for you.

Chris Iwelumo coming to Wolverhampton Wanderers was the perfect move for me and hopefully it’s been good for the club as well.

“I was very close to coming here before I signed for Charlton. I always wanted to come back to the Midlands – that’s where I want to finish my days.

“Wolves is a fantastic club and this season was a dream come true.

“I’ve scored goals, I’ve got my international caps and we won the league – it’s been perfect.”