THE impact of Wanderers' involvement in the UEFA Cup has already had an effect on next season's fixture list.
The away games against derby rivals Manchester City and Wigan Athletic, originally scheduled as Saturday fixtures - September 17 and October 1 respectively - have both been put back 24 hours.
And more re-arrangements will follow, if Wanderers clear their first European hurdle and qualify for the group stages.
When UEFA Cup ties are played on Thursday evenings, competing clubs are not asked to play their next Premier League fixtures until Sunday at the earliest.
But the busy schedule, which Sam Allardyce fears will put a serious strain on his squad, can have an even greater impact once domestic cup competitions come into play.
Should Wanderers reach the group stage of the UEFA Cup, the first set of games is scheduled for Thursday, October 20. The Premiership game at home to West Brom would then have to be put back to the following Sunday, after which the Whites would have only two days to recover before opening their Carling Cup programme with a third round tie on Wednesday, October 26 - three games, in three competitions, in seven days, with no let-up in November or December.
If they were to match Middlesbrough's successful run on their European debut last season, the cramming would start all over again in February when the FA Cup could come into play.
It means Wanderers fans need to be aware that more Premiership fixtures listed for Saturdays will have to be rescheduled the more success the Whites have in Europe, regardless of Premiership matches selected for live TV screening.
Cup dates - UEFA Cup: 1st rd, 1st leg - Thurs, Sept 15; 2nd leg - Thurs, Sept 29; Group match 1 - Thurs, Oct 20; Group match 2 - Thurs, Nov 3; Group match 3 - Thurs, Nov 24; Group match 4 - Wed Nov 30/Thurs, Dec 1; Group match 5 - Wed, Dec 14/ Thurs, Dec 15; 1st ko rd, 1st leg - Wed, Feb 15/Thurs, Feb 16; 2nd leg - Thurs, Feb 23; 2nd ko rd, 1st leg - Thurs, March 9; 2nd leg - Wed, March 15/Thurs, March 16; q-final , 1st leg - Thurs, March 30; 2nd leg -Thurs, April 6; s-final, 1st leg - Thurs, April 20; 2nd leg - Thurs, April 27; Final - Wed, May 10.
Carling Cup: 3rd rd - Wed, Oct 26 - 4th rd Wed, Nov 30; 5th rd - Wed, Dec 21; s-finals, 1st leg - Wed, Jan 11; 2nd leg - Wed, Jan 25; Final - Sun, Feb 26.
FA Cup: 3rd rd - Sat, Jan 7; 4th rd - Sat, Jan 28; 5th rd - Sat, Feb 18; 6th rd - March 20, 21, 22, 23; s-finals - Sat, April 22; Final - Sat, May 13.
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