SATURDAY: MICHAEL Owen confirms his return to scoring form, setting up Liverpool's first for co-striker El-Hadji Diouf and scoring the second in a 2-0 Anfield victory that denies Wanderers the chance to pull clear of the relegation zone.

They stay ahead of third-bottom West Ham on goal difference but on the day he reveals he failed in a bid to sign Hakan Sukur before the Turkish international joined Blackburn, Sam Allardyce is again left bemoaning the lack of a cutting edge.

MONDAY

THE Reserves score their third successive victory, beating Birmingham 3-2 at Gigg Lane, but at a cost. Nicky Hunt spends the night in hospital and is ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking and dislocating his shoulder in a freak accident and Mike Whitlow's return from a knee ligament injury lasts just 19 minutes. Gareth Farrelly, again watched by Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore, gets his second goal in successive games and the impressive Jermain Johnson nets twice. Bottom club Sunderland, whose next game is at home to Wanderers, announce the sacking of manager Howard Wilkinson.

TUESDAY

JAY-JAY Okocha's about-turn on his decision to quit international football is confirmed when the Wanderers midfielder is named in the Nigeria squad for their African Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi on March 29. Mick McCarthy emerges as the red-hot favourite to succeed Wilkinson at Sunderland.

WEDNESDAY

SAM Allardyce takes up darts, accepting an invitation to play in the Laurel UK Open qualifiers in Manchester ... Sunderland appoint former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy as their new manager. Gareth Farrelly joins Rotherham on a month's loan.

THURSDAY

HENRIK Pedersen, back in light training after dislocating his shoulder in the Manchester United game three weeks ago, sets his sights on a return to action in the home game against Spurs on March 24. Bookmakers William Hill quote Wanderers as odds-on favourites to be relegated along with West Brom and Sunderland.

FRIDAY

GUDNI Bergsson earns a shock return to the Iceland scene five years after his last appearance. Sam Allardyce says he will continue to play to the strengths of his big name players - Djorkaeff, Okocha and Campo - and not sacrifice style for a direct approach. Amazingly, Pedersen could be in contention for a place in the squad for the Sunderland game. Allardyce reveals how he feared for his safety in crowd riots during a scouting trip to Greece.