Doyle relishing arrival of new faces

Striker Kevin Doyle is relishing the arrival of new faces up front as Wolves prepare to strengthen their attack.

Manager Mick McCarthy has made signing a striker his top priority this summer, in a bid to address Wolves' record as the Premier League's lowest scorers with 32 goals, of which Doyle top-scored with nine.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who was so prolific in the Championship, scored just two in 23 games to prove what a jump it can be between the divisions.

The club have already confirmed interest in Lens striker Aruna Dindane, but the footballing grapevine has linked them with a host of names including former Molineux golden boy Robbie Keane, Glasgow Rangers man Kris Boyd, Burnley's 12-goal top goal getter Steven Fletcher and Stoke's Dave Kitson - Doyle's former strike partner at Reading.

While Wolves reckon Boyd and Fletcher are not on their list, it's clear the club are looking at attracting increased quality to their squad as they look to cement their place in the Premier League and avoid the so-called 'second season syndrome.'

Doyle said: "The manager has said that there will be a lot of strengthening and adding to the squad and that can only be a bonus.

"That's what all the players want to hear - if we sign another striker in the summer, that's competition for me and hopefully that will push me, Sylvan and the others on and make us try that bit harder to try to stay in the team.

"New players bring a buzz about the place and if the gaffer signs a striker or two it's a challenge to overcome for the rest of us."

The news that Wolves will be strengthening their squad is just what Doyle wants to hear.

The 26-year-old has painful memories of his time at Reading, with the feeling they didn't perhaps add the players they needed after finishing eighth in their first season in the Premier League and found themselves relegated 12 months later.

He said: "There was probably a bit of relaxation going into that second season only with little things, but little things that made a big difference.

"We probably didn't strengthen like we should have. It was almost the same team from winning the Championship to finishing eighth and then going down.

"Signing a few players will keep us all on our toes. The season just gone we were always just outside the relegation zone or in from time to time.

"If we can strengthen and push on and work hard again to be a little bit above that then we can build again.

"That's what you have to try to do."

One of the reasons why Doyle joined Wolves was the club's history, finding it intoxicating and persuasive, fuelling a belief that they could once again rub shoulders with the game's elite.

The Republic of Ireland international feels the club is an attractive option for new signings.

He said: "We've got the infrastructure. This is a massive club which historically has everything going for it.

"With the chairman's financial backing it is a well-run club which can invest and go forward.

"I see there are plans to develop the ground and all things like that increase our presence to make us more established."

Wolves achieved survival playing with Doyle on his own up front from January onwards and appreciates playing that way was partly the club's saviour.

They played for an hour with two up top against Stoke and, once safe, they reverted to 4-4-2 for the last two matches of the season against Portsmouth and Sunderland.

Doyle appreciates the merits of both formations.

He said: "Circumstances and the team we play dictate because we've been so successful playing 4-5-1 since February.

"So I wouldn't advocate changing to 4-4-2 after going back to it for half an hour, but in the circumstances it was a good move from the gaffer to try to win that game."