SAM Allardyce has the rare luxury of being spoilt for choice for Saturday's Reebok clash with Crewe.

Having been so limited for options last weekend that he was forced to ask top scorer Michael Ricketts, despite feeling unwell, to lead the attack, the Wanderers boss now has a multitude of permutations to consider.

Per Frandsen is available again after suspension and looks certain to return in midfield, where he had been ever-present before missing the Watford game.

Dean Holdsworth and Simon Charlton have recovered from injuries and are back in the squad and Carsten Fredgaard, who was laid up with stomach flu, is also in contention.

But the big question is whether Ian Marshall, whose introduction as a second half substitute for Ricketts inspired the comeback that eventually overwhelmed Graham Taylor's Hornets, will keep his place.

Marshall netted the 77th minute winner to secure a 2-1 victory after Ricardo Gardner had cancelled out Tommy Smith's early goal and the player himself believes he has done enough to warrant a place in the starting line-up.

Whether Allardyce prefers the veteran to the 12-goal Ricketts and what formation he elects to go with after the successful and inspirational switch from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 in the Watford game, is something the manager was keeping to himself today.

Crewe boss Dario Gradi, for what it's worth, reckons Wanderers will start with Marshall.

He was at the Reebok on Sunday and has a hunch that Allardyce - determined to consolidate his team's position in the top six - will stick with the 34-year-old warhorse.