Iwelumo missed an open goal in a 0-0 draw with Norway in October

Chris Iwelumo is likely to miss Scotland's remaining three World Cup qualifiers and the first two months of Wolves' Premier League campaign.

The striker had been hopeful of returning from injury in time for Scotland's matches against Macedonia and Netherlands in September.

But, after surgery for a broken metatarsal, he received bad news.

"They're saying it's about three months, so we'll just get on with it and see how it goes," he said.

Iwelumo limped off during the 1-0 victory over Perth Glory following a tangle of legs with former Leeds player Jacob Burns and X-rays later revealed a break.

The 30-year-old had initially retained some hope of facing Norway in Oslo on 12 August and promoted Wolves' return to England's top-flight against West Ham three days later.

"The operation went well and I'm now just getting ready for rehab," he told Wolves' website.

Obviously I was devastated, having been back for a few weeks of pre-season Scotland and Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo

"I've had the injury before, so I know what's required.

"Maybe it's a slight consolation that, by the time the season starts, I'll be a good few weeks into recovery, but obviously I was hoping to be involved."

Iwelumo had only just returned to full fitness after a medial knee ligament injury picked up at the end of the season when he suffered the latest injury blow.

"Obviously I was devastated, having been back for a few weeks of pre-season," he said.

"You work so hard to get yourself right and everyone had come back in fantastic shape and I got injured in the first few minutes of the first game.

"It's difficult to take, but it's part and parcel of football and I'll just have to get on with it."

Iwelumo's absence means he will have to wait longer to make amends for his well-publicised failure to score against Norway when the sides last met at Hampden, the striker missing an open goal in what ended a goalless draw.

Scotland manager George Burley handed him his first start in the friendly against Argentina in November and, although he was on the bench for the games against Netherlands and Iceland, Iwelumo had been hopeful of winning his third cap.

Burley's side sit second in Group Nine behind the Dutch and ahead of Macedonia, Iceland and Norway but are desperate to pick up maximum points to ensure a place in the play-offs as one of the best-placed runners-up.

Craig Gordon, Stephen McManus, Scott Brown, Barry Robson and James Morrison are all injury doubts for the Scots ahead of the trip to Norway, while Iwelumo joins defender Kirk Broadfoot in definitely missing the game through injury.

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