STIG Tofting will play through the pain barrier to keep Wanderers' Premiership heads above water.

The midfielder is living up to his tough guy reputation by refusing to have an operation on a broken foot.

Tofting has had the chance to clear up the long standing problem with surgery but prefers to put off an operation to help the team.

He has played the last three league games and his availability has been welcomed by Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce who has needed the 33-year-old in the absence of the injured Per Frandsen and Gareth Farrelly from the midfield and Kevin Nolan's enforced move to right wing back due to the glut of injuries to key defenders.

The problems should clear up soon with Frandsen and Farrelly in with a chance of returning against Blackburn this weekend and Nolan free to move back into the engine room against Leeds a week on Monday - after serving a one-match ban himself - when Bruno N'Gotty's three-match ban ends.

Tofting could take some shifting with Allardyce hopeful of better things to come from him during the second half of the season.

Allardyce said: "Stig had a broken foot which affected his performances and he is still playing with a broken foot.

"But he does not want to get it operated on. He would rather play through the pain barrier.

"It is difficult to overcome any broken bone in the body but he wants to carry on with a couple of pain killing injections before he plays.

"He is a good player who played in the World Cup and reached the last 16. He has been a good player for his country and in the Bundesliga and hopefully we will see the best of him this season."

Allardyce also believes Farrelly can add to his selection headache, adding: "In three or four performances this season Gareth has shown he has improved as a Premiership player since last year and he is coming on."