Ricketts' benchmark for the season

The prolific Reebok top scorer was one of the most feared strikers in Division One, menacing defences with his pace, power and finishing.

It does not bare thinking about how Wanderers would have fared without his goals yet he was never considered an automatic choice, frequently having to content himself with a place on the bench, from where he was used with such devastating effect.

Dean Holdsworth, Bo Hansen, even Ian Marshall, were often selected ahead of him, regardless of the goals he racked up in what was ostensibly only his second full season in League football.

Yet, for all his personal frustration, the way Ricketts was used by Sam Allardyce was a tactical masterstroke - a point graphically illustrated when he scored the decisive second goal against Preston in the Play-off Final at Cardiff - his 14th of the season having come off the bench!

Not surprisingly, after nurturing him so skilfully and effectively last season, the manager expects the former Walsall youngster to make a big impact in the Premiership.

"I believe Michael will score goals at any level," Allardyce says. "I don't know how many chances he is going to get but he has proved he doesn't need many to score goals.

"His goals per chance ratio is excellent. If he can do that again, he'll be a major player for us."

But the signings of Henrik Pedersen and Akinori Nishizawa have not exactly made the 22-year-old's task any easier.

Ricketts actually faces an even a tougher challenge if he is to establish himself not only as top scorer but number one in the selection pecking order.

He may again have to settle for the bench on occasions but he will not be alone. Not in the Premiership.

It may be no consolation to the confident and ambitious young Brummie but the top flight is littered with accomplished strikers who will be in the same boat: Liverpool captain, Robbie Fowler, can prouldy show off a hat-trick of medals after the Reds' incredible end to last season ... but he was frequently frustrated as Gerrard Houllier preferred starting with Michael Owen and Emile Heskey.

And Dennis Bergkamp regularly had to settle for the subs' bench as Arsenal mounted their Championship challenge.

But Ricketts need only look down the road at Old Trafford for an example of one of the most lethal strikers in the Premiership who has more than just a passing acquaintance with the subs' bench.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - the "Baby Faced Assassin" - would probably be guaranteed a starting place if he was with any other team in Europe. Yet, in his five seasons with Manchester United, Alex Ferguson has tossed him the substitute's shirt almost as often as he has given him a place in his 1st Xl.

Solskjaer hates the "supersub" tag almost as much as he despises the "Baby Face" nickname but it is harsh to blame journalists or supporters for applying the label when he so regularly comes off the bench to score so prolifically (four in a record-breaking 13-minute spell in the 8-1 win at Nottingham Forest during the 98-99 treble-winning campaign).

Last season only three of his 13 goals were scored coming off the bench but one of those - a matchwinner against Charlton Athletic - prompted Fergie himself to suggest "He's the best substitute ever!"

Like Ricketts, Solskjaer has fresh competition in the attacking department in the shape of Ruud van Nistelrooy. But he is undaunted.

"I'm used to the situation with four strikers," he says, weighing up the challenge. "I just have to perform as well as I can and then it will be more difficult to be left out."

If it's good enough for Solskjaer ..!

It does not bare thinking about how Wanderers would have fared without his goals yet he was never considered an automatic choice, frequently having to content himself with a place on the bench, from where he was used with such devastating effect.

Dean Holdsworth, Bo Hansen, even Ian Marshall, were often selected ahead of him, regardless of the goals he racked up in what was ostensibly only his second full season in League football.

Yet, for all his personal frustration, the way Ricketts was used by Sam Allardyce was a tactical masterstroke - a point graphically illustrated when he scored the decisive second goal against Preston in the Play-off Final at Cardiff - his 14th of the season having come off the bench!

Not surprisingly, after nurturing him so skilfully and effectively last season, the manager expects the former Walsall youngster to make a big impact in the Premiership.

"I believe Michael will score goals at any level," Allardyce says. "I don't know how many chances he is going to get but he has proved he doesn't need many to score goals.

"His goals per chance ratio is excellent. If he can do that again, he'll be a major player for us."

But the signings of Henrik Pedersen and Akinori Nishizawa have not exactly made the 22-year-old's task any easier.

Ricketts actually faces an even tougher challenge if he is to establish himself not only as top scorer but number one in the selection pecking order.

He may again have to settle for the bench on occasions but he will not be alone. Not in the Premiership.

It may be no consolation to the confident and ambitious young Brummie but the top flight is littered with accomplished strikers who will be in the same boat: Liverpool captain, Robbie Fowler, can proudly show off a hat-trick of medals after the Reds' incredible end to last season but he was frequently frustrated as Gerrard Houllier preferred starting with Michael Owen and Emile Heskey.

And Dennis Bergkamp regularly had to settle for the subs' bench as Arsenal mounted their Championship challenge.

But Ricketts need only look down the road at Old Trafford for an example of one of the most lethal strikers in the Premiership who has more than just a passing acquaintance with the subs' bench.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - the "Baby Faced Assassin" - would probably be guaranteed a starting place if he was with any other team in Europe. Yet, in his five seasons with Manchester United, Alex Ferguson has tossed him the substitute's shirt almost as often as he has given him a place in his first Xl.

Solskjaer hates the "supersub" tag almost as much as he despises the "Baby Face" nickname but it is harsh to blame journalists or supporters for applying the label when he so regularly comes off the bench to score so prolifically.

Like Ricketts, Solskjaer has fresh competition in the attacking department in the shape of Ruud van Nistelrooy. But he is undaunted.

"I'm used to the situation with four strikers," he says, weighing up the challenge. "I just have to perform as well as I can and then it will be more difficult to be left out."