New Bristol City signing Chris Iwelumo is a man with a point to prove.

While insisting he has nothing to prove to Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, the manager who allowed him to go out on loan at the end of last week, he admits he has plenty to prove to himself.

An acknowledged Championship high-flyer and a regular contributor of goals in the second tier, the towering Scotland international striker was undoubtedly a major factor in the surge which propelled Wolves to the title and promotion to the Premier League last season.

But while his team-mates have relished the challenge of pitting their wits against the very best teams in the land, Iwelumo has spent the months since promotion battling injury. He was first laid low by a medial knee ligament problem which sidelined him for several weeks. Worse followed when he fractured a metatarsal during his comeback game against Perth Glory in Australia during the summer, an injury which recurred in the autumn and effectively ruled him out of action until just before Christmas.

At the age of 31, and with so many serious injuries behind him, Iwelumo knows the jury is out and that some are questioning his ability to be as good as he was before. That he is ready to meet the challenge head-on and prove the doubters wrong is potentially good news for Bristol City manager Gary Johnson, who is relying on the big man to galvanise an attack which has been firing blanks in recent weeks.

"Having been out for so long, I think I need to prove a point to myself more than anyone else," said the 6ft 3in targetman, who made his City debut in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United.

"It's been a frustrating nine months for me, and it's a relief just to be playing again. The road back to fitness has been a long one and I've really had to get my head down and try hard not to let it get to me.

"It's hard when your team-mates are playing in the Premier League every week and you are having to watch from the stands. Now I'm back playing again, I just want to make up for lost time."

Given that first-team opportunities were always likely to be few and far between at Molineux – Iwelumo has made just three starts this season – the Scot jumped at the chance to drop back down to the Championship in exchange for regular games.

He said: "I first heard Bristol City were interested in taking me last Thursday afternoon. When the gaffer (McCarthy) called me in and asked if I fancied it, I said 'yes' straight away.

"Less than 24 hours after hearing the news, I was training with the City boys and preparing to face Sheffield United. After so long out injured, I just want to play again, and I'm delighted Gary Johnson wants to give me that opportunity.

"Now it's up to me to prove I can do a job for the club and do myself justice in the Championship again."

Iwelumo is well aware he has joined a struggle against relegation every bit as intense as the one Wolves are engaged in 90 miles to the north.

But Iwelumo's confidence has not been eroded by the 6-0 loss to Cardiff which plunged City into their current downward spiral, and he is convinced he can help reverse a trend which has seen the Robins scrape just two points from five games since they last tasted victory in mid-January.

"I've kept tabs on the Championship and I know what has been going on at Bristol City," added Iwelumo. "But I also have a lot of friends in the dressing room here and I know how good these players are.

"They definitely have what it takes to turn things around, if only they can get that first win. I'd like to think my experience can help, both on and off the pitch, and I plan to do everything I possibly can to help while I'm here."

Tonight's home game against play-off candidates Leicester City offers Iwelumo an opportunity to make a favourable first impression on the Ashton Gate crowd. And he knows he has to do well to win over fans who still recall the part he played in winning the penalty from which Leon Knight shot Brighton to victory in the 2004 League One play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

"I expect a lot of them still remember that," said the big striker. "But now I'm with Bristol City, I'd like to give the supporters something to shout about.

"I've played for the opposition a number of times at Ashton Gate and the crowd really do get behind their team and create a fantastic atmosphere. We're definitely going to need them to do that against Leicester."

Although City have won only twice in 17 games and are at their lowest ebb since achieving promotion to the Championship in 2007, Iwelumo saw enough in Saturday's performance at Bramall Lane to suggest there is light at the end of the tunnel.

He said: "I thought we started the game really well and were on top for the first 15 or 20 minutes. We created a few half-chances and it would have been a very different game had we scored during that period.

"There is a fine line between winning and losing, and it's up to us to turn those half-chances into clear-cut chances and show the quality to take them.

"I'm sure we'll have a lot more of the ball and see that when we play Leicester at home."