Strachan eyes on Wolves ace

Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo is on a hit-list of new Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan.

The Scotland international, who has only just returned from injury, was among nine players on a list assumed to be transfer targets clutched by Strachan as he greeted fans at the Riverside to be unveiled as Boro's new manager on Monday.

Iwelumo's name appears along with Villa pair, central midfielder Isaiah Osbourne and right-winger Marc Albrighton, Birmingham's former Albion striker Kevin Phillips, Tottenham's ex-Sheffield United right-back Kyle Naughton, Stoke centre-back Andy Griffin, Arsenal forward Jack Wilshere, Portsmouth central midfielder Haydn Mullins and young Manchester United attacker Federico Macheda.

With the transfer window closed until January, Strachan's only hope of signing any players at the moment is on loan.

But any move for Iwelumo is likely to resisted with Sam Vokes having only just joined League One leaders Leeds on a temporary basis until January.

The choice of Iwelumo is surprising given the 31-year-old has only just returned to contention after six months out with a knee injury and broken bone in his foot.

The 6ft 4ins much-travelled striker made his comeback as an 86th-minute substitute in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Villa.

He will by vying for a place in Saturday's short trip to his first English club Stoke with Stefan Maierhofer, who has completed his one-match ban for his sending off in the 1-1 draw at Everton.

Despite the tough competition in front of him headed by £6.5m record signing Kevin Doyle and double Championship Golden Boot winner Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Iwelumo is desperate to prove himself in the Premier League and it would be a surprise if he wanted a move at this stage.

Vokes scored his first goal of the season in his third game for Leeds, who won 4-0 at Bristol Rovers last night.