Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce, who is determined to strengthen his squad further, believes the Carling Cup experience up could be a lure for other players who are eligible.

Cash raised from the cup run has strengthened his bargaining position while the added attraction of what he describes as a "wild card" into a cup final could be his trump card.

"Getting to the final has been a big boost," Allardyce said as he continued to trawl the markets, home and abroad, ahead of Saturday's deadline, which could be extended to Monday to allow weekend transfers to be processed and registered.

"The extra revenue boosts the coffers for me to go into the market and do some business, either on a short-term loan basis or even taking over a player's contract.

"If I can find players who have not played in the cup, I might be able to persuade their managers to let them come here.

"And I'm sure the players will want to come to maybe get a chance of playing as a wild card entry in a major cup final."

There are precedents. Bruce Rioch signed Gudni Bergsson in February 1995 and gave him his debut as substitute in the Coca Cola Cup Final at Wembley -- the last time Wanderers, then a First Division club, were in a major cup final.