INJURY-JINXED Sam Allardyce was dealt another blow today when an injury report on key defender Anthony Barness revealed knee ligament damage.

"It looks like Barney's tweaked a medial ligament," the Wanderers boss confirmed after the former Charlton return at left back in Saturday's 2-0 win at Norwich, "and that's a severe blow.

"We'll have to wait and see but you can't really expect him to be fit for Saturday."

Doubts over the fitness of a player who has played in every position along the back line since his arrival on a free transfer in the summer comes at a time when Allardyce was hoping for some much-needed good news from the treatment room.

Ian Marshall (groin), Dean Holdsworth (calf) and Gareth Farrelly (hamstring) missed the Norwich game but could all be back in the reckoning for Saturday's trip to Sheffield United, where Wanderers will be looking to continue their impressive run and consolidate their place in the top three.

"Ian's likely to be fit and Dean and Gareth could be in the reckoning too," the manager said hopefully.

Blades manager Neil Warnock will have to watch the Bramall Lane action from the stands after receiving a three-match touchline ban from an FA disciplinary committee. The hearing - held at the Reebok Stadium yesterday - looked into Warnock's behaviour at two games, against Preston and Wolves, in August and September.

Wanderers' loan signing Carsten Fredgaard is expected to be given a runout in the Reserve team fixture against West Brom at the Reebok tomorrow night (ko 7pm).

Pierre Njanka, Strasbourg's Cameroon international defender who has been on trial with Wanderers, has returned to France but Allardyce has not ruled out a deal for the £400,000-rated centre-back.