Hearts eye Colchester frontman

Last updated : 18 April 2007 By Scott The Jambo

Hearts could be set to solve their striking problems by making a summer swoop for Colchester striker Chris Iwelumo.

The powerful forward has netted 17 goals this season in the Coca-Cola Championship as Colchester have rocketed up to a lofty 9th position.

The U's were only promoted from League One last season, but have made light work of challenging for a play-off berth this term.

A Hearts scout is thought to have attended Colchester's clash against Leeds on Easter Monday, a match in which the U's grabbed a 2-1 victory with top scorer Iwelumo netting the equaliser.

Hearts interim Head Coach Anatoly Korobochka said
: "We saw one match which was particularly good in the second half, one team had greater quality but the other won because it had greater desire".

The thought of European football with Hearts is thought to appeal to the prolific frontman, however much may depend on whether Colchester's promotion push is successful, as if the U's were able to offer Scottish-born Iwelumo the chance to play in the Premiership, it would surely be too good to turn down.