SIMON Charlton has made a high-speed recovery to put himself in the derby reckoning.

The Wanderers' left-back, whose form has been a revelation this season, was expected to be sidelined for two weeks after limping out of last Saturday's draw at Southampton nursing a hamstring problem.

But Sam Allardyce confirmed today that he could be given the all-clear to face Rovers.

"He's made a much quicker recovery than any of us expected," the manager said. "Remarkable really. We will probably have to wait until tomorrow morning to see how he is and how Paul Warhurst is before making any decisions.

"We'll keep our fingers crossed for Simon but, if he doesn't make this game, he should be all right for Sunderland on Tuesday."

Allardyce has warned all his players - including big name signings Youri Djorkaeff and Fredi Bobic - that there is no margin for error with the season reaching a climax.

"Everyone must perform at their best now or I will take them out of the side," he insisted, "because now I have the squad to do it!"

Per Frandsen, who has missed five games with an ankle injury and a virus problem, returned to training yesterday but is not in the reckoning to face his former club and has targeted the home game against Derby for a first team comeback.