ANTHONY Barness has admitted that he was "in the dark" over his future after answering Wanderers' Premiership SOS.

The utility defender thought he had secured a loan move to West Ham after travelling to London for a training session on Thursday. He was looking forward to teaming up again with Hammers' boss Alan Pardew, with whom he played at Charlton, but was recalled to the Reebok 24 hours later to cover for injuries and played a key role in Saturday's 1-0 victory over Portsmouth.

Now Sam Allardyce has hinted he could postpone his Hammers move, unless he can find a better replacement.

Barness, who was due to play for West Ham in their First Division game at Sheffield United on Saturday evening, said: "It was good to come back, whether it's for just one game or for the rest of the season.

"I was pretty gutted when I got the call back on Friday because I'd been told I was starting for West Ham and wasn't sure that I'd be playing up here. I was just told to come back.

"I didn't fancy coming all the way back just to be on the bench and missing the chance to play for West Ham.

"But it's worked out well."

Simon Charlton made a rapid recovery from a hamstring injury to ease Wanderers' left-back problems but Allardyce kept him on the bench with Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final against Aston Villa in mind, opting instead to start with Barness.

"He was disappointed but he travelled back from London and was outstanding in the left-back position," the manager said, as he delighted in seeing Wanderers keep their first clean sheet in eight Premiership games. "He's given me food for thought with that performance."

Barness, who has supported West Ham since his school days, had made just one previous Premiership start this season -- coincidentally in the 4-0 hammering at Portsmouth in August -- and is out of contract in the summer.

"It's up to the West Ham manager whether he makes contact again," he said. "The gaffer's going to have his opinions on where I feature in the next few days, but I'm really in the dark at the moment.

"It's been pretty hectic but it's been different. I got down there and got my West Ham tracksuit then suddenly I'm back up here putting my Bolton suit on. It's been different but I've enjoyed it."