JUSSI Jaaskelainen is facing a race against time to be fit for Wanderers' crunch derby at Wigan Athletic.

The Reebok keeper, who was injured warming up for the first leg of the UEFA Cup Round of 16 tie against Sporting Lisbon last week, is out of tomorrow night's return leg in the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

More worryingly for manager Gary Megson, however, is the Finland international, who has been ever-present in the Premiership for three seasons, could also be out of Sunday's JJB showdown, which is pivotal to Wanderers' prospects for survival.

And if he fails to respond to treatment, he could be struggling for other crucial fixtures in the run-in.

Initial reports suggested the back injury that forced Jaaskelainen's dramatic late withdrawal from the Lisbon game last Thursday was not serious, but the injury has since been diagnosed as a hamstring problem for which he is having "ongoing treatment".

See Wednesday's The Bolton News for full story.