WHERE to now for Steve Banks?

Two weeks ago he was making his Premiership debut at Aston Villa and now he is having to content himself with being third in the Reebok pecking order.

Sam Allardyce had already made it clear that, if he could get Richard Dutruel on loan from Barcelona, the Frenchman would be installed as Jussi Jaaskelainen's understudy.

Then he dropped Banks from the squad altogether for the Everton game, naming Kevin Poole as substitute - a decision that led to the veteran making a surprise return to the Premiership when Jaaskelainen dramatically pulled out seconds before kick off.

Having come to terms with his position as number two after problems last season when - by his own admission - he did not handle his situation very well, Banks knows he must now accept he is no longer Allardyce's number two.

He has not asked for a transfer but Wanderers have made it known - if not officially then by implication - that he could be surplus to their requirements.

How quickly things can change!