SAM Allardyce has voiced his anger at an energy-sapping fixture schedule that threatens to stretch his squad to the limits over the next month.

"I might as well concede three points to Manchester United now," the Wanderers boss said, turning to exaggeration to highlight the demands on his players in the build up to the September 11 Reebok derby.

Allardyce is annoyed that Wanderers have been given two long away trips - Fulham and Southampton - in the space of five days at a time when many of his squad have international commitments.

Wanderers decided to cut down on travelling by setting up a base in the south between the two Premiership games.

They have done that in the past, but rarely have they been forced to dovetail a busy domestic programme with such a hectic international schedule, and Allardyce reckons not enough is being done to help clubs.

"No wonder there's so much discontent between league football and international football," he said.

"The league puts together two long distance away games at the worst possible time for players - right at the start of the season and when many of them are also having to travel all over the place to play for their countries.

"It causes a huge problem for the recovery of players."

Wanderers had eight players on international duty this week, and will have a similar number involved in World Cup qualifiers - mostly double-headers - after next Sunday's game against Liverpool.

"We'll have seven or eight going away to play two games - Saturday and Wednesday - then they return to play Manchester United and then Arsenal.

"It's not good for a club with such a small squad as ours, but it's something we just have to cope with, something we'll have to manage. Fortunately, our system has always stood us in good stead and, hopefully, it will do again."

Wanderers were prepared for every eventuality when they left for London yesterday, taking their entire first-team squad, plus a backroom staff of 12 and enough kit and equipment to deal with any problems that might arise.

But Allardyce says the problem will not go away until more consideration is given to clubs when domestic and international fixtures are compiled.

He said: "Some people might say it's our own fault for signing all these international players - but if we didn't, we wouldn't be in the Premiership!"