BULENT Akin and Stig Tofting could add to Wanderers' midfield options sooner than expected.

The £5 million-rated Turk, signed on a free transfer from Galatasaray, is showing rapid progress in his recovery from a knee operation while the Denmark international, still nursing the stress fracture in his foot that caused him problems last season and during the World Cup, should be back in training before the new season kicks off on August 17.

"Akin should be ready sooner rather than later," Sam Allardyce confirmed. "Stig's looking okay. It's a slow process but I would think he would be clear from injury before the start of the season. Then he would have to go through certain set processes to get him ready for first team football."

Colin Hendry, who has been excused duties since his wife, Denise, was taken seriously ill in March, has returned to regular training.