SAM Allardyce has hailed Henrik Pedersen's timely emergence as the complete striker writes Neil Bonnar

The 27-year-old Dane has led Wanderers' recent revival with three goals in the last five games to keep out new recruits Salva Ballesta and Pierre Yves-Andre.

While the Reebok boss moved swiftly for Ballesta and Andre to fill the void left by Michael Ricketts' departure for Middlesbrough in the January transfer window, it is Pedersen who has taken up the mantle with irresistible effort and achievement.

He has led the line and scored the goals which have been so hard to come by in the Wanderers' team this season, grabbing one in the 4-2 victory over Birmingham, another in the 1-1 draw at West Brom and the clinching second in last Saturday's 2-0 victory at Sunderland.

He looked certain to miss that game with injury but made a rapid recovery and the fact that he was thrown straight into the firing line shows just how highly he is regarded by his manager.

"Henrik is in his finest form since he has been with us," enthused Allardyce.

"He is looking like a complete centre forward. Not just in his play but also in his goals now.

"He has started to score on a regular basis and he took his goal exceptionally well against Sunderland.

"At the moment he is the one with the ability to win games for us, the one in form."

The manager believes the sight of Ballesta and Andre on the sidelines is pushing Pedersen on to maintaining his impressive level of form.

"The arrival of the new strikers has brought extra pressure which has

brought the best out in Henrik," added Allardyce.

"These boys being here has lifted us because they are chomping at the bit to get in.

"Ballesta scored a goal in the reserves on Wednesday night and we know he is capable of scoring goals regularly.

"He was bitterly disappointed not to be selected against Sunderland but he has got over it and shown great professionalism.

"This lad is a great trainer and competitor and wants to keep himself as sharp as he can," said the Wanderers' boss.

"He requested to play the full 90 minutes in the reserves and we gave it him.

"I am sure he will play a major part for us between now and the end of the season."

Allardyce insisted he never had any intention of selling Pedersen in the summer after sending him back to his former club in Denmark to get match practice.

But he admitted the Dane began this season with worries over whether he was Premiership quality.

"He would have started this season with a question mark but he has come through with his commitment and dedication," explained the manager.

"He has also had to overcome problems players have when they come into the Premiership, particularly when they come from Denmark where they don't go a full season.

"They do half a season, have a break and then do another half a season so they get a break to recover.

"He came into the Premiership and suddenly he was faced with a full hit.

"His body was switching off in November because that is what he was used to in Denmark. But the season doesn't shut down over here, it gets faster and harder.

"When he was used to having a break the games started to come thicker and faster and then there was the Christmas programme when they come even thicker and faster.

"But he has overcome that with dedication and commitment."