PAUL Warhurst has always had the class - now he has the fitness and the staying power to match.

So says Sam Allardyce, who has delighted in seeing one of his most talented players enjoying his most consistent run in years.

If ever there was a test of Warhurst's endurance, it came on Tuesday night when, as one of only two players selected who had started the Premiership game at Fulham three days earlier, he went the distance in the Worthington Cup marathon with Southampton. Even having enough in the tank to strike one of the penalties that finally secured a quarter-final place.

"Paul showed his qualities throughout the game," the manager enthused, "It shows how fit he is now."

It has not always been so. A catalogue of injuries - many of them serious - have restricted Warhurst's appearances down the years, much to the frustration of his managers and supporters. But Wanderers are now getting the benefit of a player born to the midfield role which combines his expertise as a central defender and the ball-playing skills that made him not only an effective midfield player but, in the past, a striker.

"Paul is now looking after himself so well," Allardyce said, encouraged by his recent contributions.

"You would question before whether it would be wise to play him in two games - Saturday, Tuesday - plus 30 minutes more.

"But there are no problems about him lasting any game now. I hope it continues that way."

Unfortunately Allardyce will be without Warhurst's services at Spurs on Monday when Wanderers will hope to put on another successful show in front of the Sky TV cameras.

Although enjoying an injury-free run - apart from the heavy bruising that forced him to prematurely withdraw from the Old Trafford action and subsequently kept him out of the game at Aston Villa - he has landed himself with a one-match suspension for collecting five bookings.

He could be sorely missed in a game in which Wanderers' impressive away form will face a searching examination from an improving Tottenham side.

His team-mates are certainly comforted by the his presence - and don't mind admitting it.

Mike Whitlow has long maintained that Wanderers rarely lose when Warhurst plays, Simon Charlton reinforces the view by admitting "We do miss him when he doesn't play" and Colin Hendry added his tribute after playing behind his former Blackburn Rovers team-mate on Tuesday.

"Never under-estimate the job he does for the team," the veteran defender says. "He shields and makes the job so much easier."