NO-ONE has been more surprised by Wanderers' winning start to the season than Sam Allardyce but the straight-talking Reebok boss isn't getting carried away.

"Judge us after a dozen games," he insisted today as he looked for a positive reaction to Tuesday night's Worthington Cup shocker.

A draw and three successive wins have taken Wanderers to early-season heights, prompting suggestions that they aren't missing Eidur Gudjohnsen or Claus Jensen - sold to Chelsea and Charlton respectively in £4 million summer deals.

But, while the manager is delighted with the results his injury-stricken side has achieved - apart from the 3-1 defeat at Macclesfield - he reckons it is too soon to be getting excited.

"No disrespect to Tranmere, West Brom and Preston - who are doing okay of course - but we haven't played any of the big boys yet," he stressed ahead of tomorrow's Roses clash at Huddersfield. "You don't get a clear picture until 10 or 12 games into the season.

"At the moment we've put a squad together which is getting good results on a short-term basis. They've done well considering the horrendous injury list we've had but it will catch up with us sooner or later. At least we've given ourselves some breathing space.

"We've got more points than I expected, without a doubt. I certainly wouldn't have expected us to get six points over the Bank Holiday weekend, not by any stretch of the imagination.

"It's very pleasing when it goes your way."

Allardyce is hoping his skipper Mike Whitlow will be fit after missing the Macclesfield game with a shoulder injury. The captain is earmarked to replace Mark Fish, who got the good news yesterday that he may only miss one match with the ankle injury he suffered in the cup tie.

Gareth Farrelly has been given the all-clear to return in midfield after recovering from a calf injury and Jussi Jaaskelainen will be back in goal after being rested in midweek.

Having adopted a rotational policy with his strikers, Allardyce is likely to keep everyone guessing on his attacking line-up. He started with Dean Holdsworth and Isaiah Rankin at Macclesfield but he regarded Michael Ricketts' late consolation goal as one of the few positive points to emerge from the game and may be tempted to promote the summer signing from the subs' bench.

Huddersfield crashed out of the Worthington Cup with a 2-0 home defeat by Second Division Oldham on Tuesday - their third successive home defeat of the season - and Allardyce is hoping to capitalise on the Terriers' lack of confidence at the McAlpine Stadium.

"We have to try and use their poor form to our advantage," he stressed. "And to do that we must focus on playing the way we did at West Brom and Tranmere."