SAM Allardyce is revelling in the luxury of having a range of attacking alternatives as Wanderers set their sights on building on their impressive start to the season.

The Reebok boss saw loan star Isaiah Rankin score for the second successive Saturday and summer signing Michael Ricketts on target in his belated debut - both stunning strikes - in the 2-0 derby defeat of Preston, whetting the appetite for a potential feast when the little and large strikers are paired together.

But the manager underlined his range of options today when he posed the question: "What's wrong with Dean Holdsworth and Ian Marshall?"

Allardyce can now perm two from four when he considers his strike options - and that doesn't include Bo Hansen, who was his only available striker until he brought Rankin and Marshall on board 24 hours before the start of the season!

The Dane was given a new role, wide on the right, against Preston and played impressively enough to expect an extended run in that position - in home games at least.

There could be adjustments to the formation away from home but, as he pondered his selection ahead of today's trip to Tranmere, Allardyce was happy enough weighing up the potential, the experience and the goal power he has at his disposal.

"We have a very good strikeforce available to us," he acknowledged. "There will be pressure on whoever plays because we've got the back up now. Dean Holdsworth and Isaiah Rankin started on Saturday but they've seen Ian Marshall and Michael Ricketts breathing down their necks and wanting to get on. Both of them had a taste.

"And Bo's a finisher as well. He got 11 goals in 20 starts last season and, if he gets a chance, he'll finish it; Michael Ricketts scored 11 in 21 league starts for Walsall and Isaiah scored four on loan at Birmingham last season; Ian got goals in the Premiership and Dean got 15 for us last year.

"That array of quality in front of goal will make us a successful side if we can continue producing the quality of finishing we've already shown."