KEVIN Nolan fears Wanderers have seen the last of Youri Djorkaeff.

Last season's Reebok top scorer, who regards it as a privilege to have played alongside the legendary Frenchman, is resigned to losing a team-mate and a mentor.

Djorkaeff was not happy with the terms of a new one-year contract he was offered and, although Sam Allardyce has left the door open for the veteran to reconsider, time appears to be running out.

"I don't think Youri will be coming back here now," Nolan said. "If he was, it would have been done by now."

Nolan, who scored 12 goals as he re-emerged as a powerful midfield force last season, acknowledged Djorkaeff's influence in his two-and-a-half season stay at the Reebok, with a personal tribute to the 36-year-old former Inter Milan ace.

"He's someone who won a European Championship and a World Cup, and you don't play with them very often," he said.

"I learned a lot from him while he was here. When you had nights out, he'd grab you and have a little chat with you.

"He had some nice things to say about me, and I was really pleased about that. He told me to keep going, and toenjoy everything.

"It would be great to have him back, because he's been a great servant to the club, and he's been a great player to have around. If not, we wish him well, whatever he goes on to do."

Nolan, who has scored in Wanderers' first two pre-season games, says he and his team-mates are anxious to see more signings before the season kicks off on August 14. But he has been impressed by the three players Allardyce has already secured - Michael Bridges, Les Ferdinand and Radhi Jaidi - and is confident that, as last year, the squad will not be found wanting on the quality front.

"We hope we get some more in because we've only got 14 players who have played regular, top-flight football," he said. "We know it will be a tough season again because we'll have a small squad. But we're used to that.

"It's about quality not quantity. We're really happy with the ones he's brought in and, hopefully, there will be a few more players brought on board.

"But, if not, we'll just have to dig in deeper to finish in the top 10 again.

"With the quality of squad we've got, we believe we can do it. There's no reason why we can't."