SAM Allardyce is ready to bow to goal power and give Michael Ricketts a place in his starting line-up against Portsmouth at the Reebok on Saturday when Wanderers return from their triumphant travels.

The powerful young striker scored his fifth goal of the season - his fourth in eight days - in the 1-0 win at Grimsby last night, a result that earned a place in the history books as the only Bolton team to win their first four away games of the season.

Allardyce had been tempted, after Ricketts' terrific two-goal strike in Saturday's win at Huddersfield, to play him from the start at Blundell Park but now he has hinted that his non-stop scoring could leave him no option.

"If he keeps scoring we must be going down that road of having him in from the beginning," the manager confirmed. "He's a great asset to have on the bench and has imposed himself when he has gone on as substitute.

"We'll want him to be as dominant when he goes on from the start. He has the problem of not being match fit yet but his appearances as substitute are getting him there."

Wanderers win at Grimsby - their third success there in nine months - came after wins at West Brom, Tranmere and Huddersfield and broke the previous record of winning starts away from home set in 1904-05 and 1934-35.

But victory came at a price with Mike Whitlow, who missed the first three games of the season through suspension, becoming the latest casualty of an injury-stricken season when he limped off with a groin injury. He could be out for a fortnight, compounding the problems that continue to hamper Allardyce's selection plans.

Mark Fish and Gareth Farrelly both missed the Grimsby trip with ankle injuries, although Kevin Nolan - out of action since breaking his wrist on the pre-season trip to the US - returned for a 10-minute substitute appearance. But with Simon Charlton, Paul Warhurst, Robbie Elliott and Jimmy Phillips still not available as well as long term absentees, Ricardo Gardner and Dean Holden, the manager says signings - either short-term cover or longer-term investments - are now essential.

He says a move into the transfer market before Saturday is unlikely but he stressed the seriousness of the situation when he admitted: "It's extremely worrying. I have to get into the market and make sure we get somebody in. I can't leave it to chance.

"The players are working very hard but they need the back-up because I don't think we can go on forever doing what we are doing. If we are still in the same situation when we come to play Blackburn, Fulham and Watford in the space of a month, it could be too big a test for us."

Wanderers Reserves are in action at Wolves tonight in an Avon Insurance League fixture which has been brought forward from September 27.