HENRIK Pedersen has thrown down the gauntlet to anyone aiming to take his place in the Wanderers front line.

The dashing Dane responded to speculation that Sam Allardyce is about to sign Liverpool striker El Hadji Diouf -- a £10 million signing just two years ago -- with a stunning double strike in Saturday's 4-1 demolition of Charlton.

And he was in confident mood when he spoke of the latest threat to his first team place. "That's how it is in football," he said. "Every year there are new people coming in and going out.

"You just have to try and do your best and get in the starting 11. When you do that, it's up to you to keep that place.

"Goals give you confidence, especially when you're a striker, so let's hope that continues.

"Saturday was a big team effort with everybody working hard for each other.

The first goal gave me a lot of confidence and it just carried on for the whole game. The second wsas just a good strike, which took a slight deflection but it was nice seeing it go in."

Pedersen has become accustomed to seeing his place in the team come under threat but has always responded postively with determined, wholehearted performances, which paid off with nine goals last season.