HENRIK Pedersen has been tipped to take his progress on to the international stage.

Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce believes his striker has done enough to force Denmark coach Morten Olsen's hand.

Pedersen has not looked back since taking over the target man duties from Michael Ricketts three months ago.

He immediately settled into the responsibility, scoring four goals in quick succession and proving a handful for opposition defenders on the physical side.

He said he is surprised Olsen has not taken a closer look at him this season or at Per Frandsen, who recently announced his retirement from international football.

"Henrik is scoring goals and making problems for defences and he deserves all the recognition he is getting," Allardyce enthused about the striker who has emerged from the shadows to produce a quality that has meant Wanderers have not missed the departed Ricketts and Dean Holdsworth.

"I am surprised Morten has not come to see us more than he has so he could make a better judgement on Henrik and Per.

"Considering Stig Tofting was his number one in his position and Pedersen was keeping Stig out of our team he might have been able to make a better assessment of Per as well as Henrik if he had been to watch them more.

"Henrik is getting the chances to score goals or go close as he did against Arsenal last Saturday when he was unlucky not to get a goal.

"One chance was a whisker away and Seaman made a very good save to prevent him from scoring another.

"He must be doing something right."

Pedersen performs a pivotal role in a forward line which Allardyce believes has been the key to Wanderers' recent home performances.

He plays furthest forward in a three-man strikeforce which features Youri Djorkaeff, just behind on the left, and Bernard Mendy more wide on the right.

Away from home Pedersen is a more lonely figure among the home centre backs but at the Reebok, Wanderers' more ambitious approach turns the formation into a definite 4-3-3.

"We play with three up front at home and I think that has been largely responsible for our better results and performances at the Reebok Stadium recently," Allardyce declared.

"We have The Snake (Djorkaeff) wriggling about everywhere, Mendy making his diagonal runs from right to left and Henrik in the middle.

"It's a positive approach from us that has resulted in more wins.