JUSSI Jaaskelainen, Steve Banks and world famous orthopaedic surgeon Richard Steadman have saved Wanderers a small fortune.

Within days of seeing former Reebok loan star Matt Clarke sign for Crystal Palace for over £1 million, Sam Allardyce revealed he was no longer looking for a new keeper.

Instead, he is looking forward to Jaaskelainen enhancing his growing reputation as one of the best young stoppers in the country while Banks - on top of his form but unfortunate to be pipped at the post for a Premiership start - keeps the pressure on.

Things might not have been so rosy, however, if the manager and his advisors had not decided to send Jaaskelainen to the Steadman's US clinic for the cruciate ligament repair that paved the way for such a rapid return to first team action.

The success of sending Ricardo Gardner to Colorado a year earlier, despite the high cost of the treatment and the travelling, made it less of a gamble but there was still an element of risk that the decision might backfire or that the keeper's powers of recovery might not be quite as impressive as his team-mate's.

And even as the clock was ticking and the new season fast approaching, Allardyce was not altogether sure that he would be ready.

"I was considering buying another goalkeepeer in the summer," the manager confirmed. "We were not sure Jussi was going to be fit for the start of the season.

"I was still considering buying another even when I was told he would be fit for the start because the period between him coming out of rehabilitation and the first game was from the beginning of August to August 18.

"I wasn't sure at that time if 18 days and three friendlies would be enough for him to get back to the level of goalkeeping that would be needed in the Premiership.

"But in that period I just couldn't find the type of keeper I wanted. So I looked at Jussi and he seemed okay and I had every confidence in Steve Banks because his performances throughout pre-season had been very good."

Indeed, it was touch and go between the two right up to the minute Allardyce named his team for the opening fixture at Leicester. Jaaskelainen's form since has left Banks facing another spell on the bench, although he was handed the jersey for Tuesday night's Worthington Cup clash with Walsal - rising to the occasion with a spectacular penalty save in injury time which wascrucial to the victory.

"Steve was very disappointed he didn't start the season," Allardyce revealed, "but his performances for the reserves have been equally as good as they were pre-season and that penalty save the other night won us the match.

"So I am all right with the goalkeeping situation now."

Jaaskelainen has been delighted with his form and fitness but knows he cannot afford to let his standards drop.

"Steve's putting pressure on all the time," he said of his training partner, "but you can't afford to keep thinking about that. You have to just concentrate on doing your best.

"If I do my best in every game, I know it's not going to be easy for Steve to take my place. But if I don't work hard, I know what to expect."