ALTHOUGH he is not a player Jim Magilton has tried to sign, despite him once living in Ipswich and playing down the road at Colchester, Chris Iwelumo goal threat is well recognised by the Blues boss.

Derek Davis

ALTHOUGH he is not a player Jim Magilton has tried to sign, despite him once living in Ipswich and playing down the road at Colchester, Chris Iwelumo goal threat is well recognised by the Blues boss.

Coupled with the undoubted prowess of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, last year's leading scorer in the Championship, Magilton is well aware of the Wolves danger.

Iwelumo played a huge part, along with Jamie Cureton, in Colchester doing so well in their first year in the Championship but left to join Premier League chasing Charlton last summer.

Things didn't work out at the Valley and he switched to Molineux during the close season and has already hit four goals in three games.

Magilton said: “He wasn't for us but he has always carried a threat and seems a really nice guy who would complement any dressing room. I'm sure he will want to take this opportunity at Wolves.

“In Chris Iwelumo Mick McCarthy has a big man who will score goals if they get balls into the box he will score goals. It didn't happen for him as he would have liked at Charlton

“We have dealt with him well in the past. Jason (de Vos) always had good battles with him and he enjoys that physical approach. So we have to be physically ready for the challenge.

“In Sylvan Ebanks-Blake they have a real powerful striker who is quick and direct and good finisher. (Michael) Kightly and (Matt) Jarvis give them good width so Wolves will come and want to play attacking football.

“Mick doesn't do anything particularly different tactically because he has good belief in the side.”

After the opening day loss against Preston Magilton is looking for a home win, and repeat of the 3-0 win from last will do well.

Neil Alexander inspired the victory with a penalty save after Wolves had the better of the opening stages and Magilton is a big admirer of his opposite number.

He said: “Mick McCarthy's sides are always very good football sides. I'm impressed the way he sets up teams and they play with flair with a lot of attacking options.

“I have nothing but the utmost respect for Mick who has improved every football club he has been at.

“It will be a real tough game which could be much the same as last year and I hope we have a bit more than them to win.”

McCarthy still has a vivid memory of that defeat which he still regards as a travesty but won't be changing his attacking philosophy.

He said: “Last season we played 4-4-2 and should have murdered them.

“Freddy Eastwood missed a penalty, we were all over them and Stephen Ward took a quick throw, Jay Bothroyd lost it and Alan Lee scored - not that I remember it.

“Normally I wouldn't blame anyone for doing it but away from home on 43 minutes, it was a travesty to go in at 1-0 down.

“We lost 3-0 by chasing the game but I won't be changing my philosophy. We play 4-4-2 because that suits us better.”

McCarthy feels Town got a similar result the same way against Burnley last week so knows they are a danger at home despite that first day loss to Preston.

He said: “They won 10 games at home from the start of last season and then they lost the first home game which tells you about the competition in this league.

“They've got Alan Lee, Pablo Counago and Kevin Lisbie, as well as Liam Trotter and Tommy Miller.

“I've just watched their game against Burnley again and Burnley would have been disappointed to have lost 3-0 because they had the best chances and perhaps should have won.

“They also slapped Leyton Orient in the Carling Cup, so they have had a mixed start because losing at home would have been a surprise after winning 10-12 games there at the start of last season.”

Magilton plans to make good use of his fulsome squad and tweak his side to face Wolves today and then make more changes for the visit of Colchester in the League Cup on Tuesday.

Ipswich Town: Wright, Supple, Bruce, Casement, Thatcher, Balkestein, McAuley, Naylor, Smith, Shumulikoski, Garvan, Miller, Haynes, Quinn, Walters, Rhodes, Lee, Lisbie, Counago.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, D Ward, Stearman, Elokobi, Kightly, Henry, D Jones, Jarvis, S Ward, Iwelumo, Ebanks-Blake, Keogh,