STEVE Banks was looking on the bright side today as Sam Allardyce scoured the markets at home and abroad for a stop-gap goalkeeper.

The unlucky Wanderer - an enthusiastic understudy in the Worthington Cup while he patiently waits for his Premiership chance - was forced to pull out of last night's third round tie against Nottingham Forest after dislocating the third finger of his left hand in a training ground accident.

Jussi Jaaskelainen, who was expecting a night off, had to "deputise," leaving Wanderers without a goalkeeper on the subs' bench and with a potential crisis on their hands.

Mindful of the dangers of going into Saturday's crucial Premiership clash with Newcastle at the Reebok without cover for the Finland international, Allardyce is now searching for a temporary signing but Banks, encouraged by past experiences, is prepared to soldier on.

"I dislocated my little finger the week before the Watford play-off final, which I played in," he recalled of the climax to the 98-99 season. "And this should be no worse than that.

Not broken

"I managed to pop it back in within 10 minutes of coming off the training pitch and we've had X-rays and made sure I haven't broken it. So it shouldn't be a problem."

Allardyce confirmed: "We don't think it's as serious as first thought. It went back into the socket pretty easily. Now it depends on the swelling.

"We'll assess the situation and look round both in this country and in Europe for a short term goalkeeper but Steve won't be so long ... maybe just a week or so."