Iwelumo listed by Potters

Stoke City have confirmed that striker Chris Iwelumo has been transfer-listed by mutual consent.

The 25-year-old, who was the club's top scorer the last two seasons, will be made available for a move away from the Brittania Stadium with immediate effect.

Iwelumo is keen to find first-team football after failing to break his way into Tony Pulis's starting line-up this term.

Potters director of football John Rudge admitted that stiff competition for places in the striking department has left Iwelumo in the cold.

"Chris has a desire for first-team football and unfortunately he cannot get that here right now," Rudge told the club's official website.

"We have five other strikers - Ade Akinbiyi, Gifton Noel-Williams, Carl Asaba, Chris Greenacre and Marc Goodfellow - and competition is very strong.

"Chris feels he needs regular first-team football at this stage of his career and a move will help him get that."

Meanwhile, the Division One club have completed the six-month loan signing of Arsenal midfielder Sebastian Svard.

The 20-year-old will remain with The Potters until the end of the season, having had a disappointing spell in his native Denmark with Copenhagen.

"We are delighted to have secured Sebastian," added Rudge.

"He is a highly-promising young player and a Danish Under-21 international, but who has found it difficult to break into the Arsenal first-team because of the very strong competition for places they have there."