KEITH Branagan p encilled his name back in the promotion frame today and insisted: "Don't write me off!" The Wanderers' keeper, restricted to just four senior appearances in a season of injury frustrations, is ready to challenge for his No 1 spot again.

"I've by no means written the season off for myself," he said confidently as he prepared for one final test of his fitness for a first team return.

"Even if I only play a small part, I'm determined to be involved again. I can't wait to get back."

Branagan, undisputed No 1 for six seasons before a series of injury problems turned the current campaign into a succession of frustrations, gets his third reserve team outing in tonight's Pontins League fixture against Oldham Athletic at the Reebok. Colin Todd is expected to give new £50,000 signing Steve Banks his debut at Oxford on Saturday after admitting that regular keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen needed to be taken out of the firing line and deciding Branagan was still not quite ready.

But the 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international reckons that, if his fitness continues to improve as it has over the last fortnight, he will be ready to lend his talent and experience to the promotion push.

"My goalkeeping hasn't been a problem," he explained. "I'm fit and the only thing that has been holding me back is my kicking. You can't play if you can't kick . . . not at this level.

"But it's improved tremendously over the past couple of weeks. I must admit it had been a big worry. I've been back in training for six weeks but I wasn't able to get any power in my kicking at all. When I tried I would melt with the pain. "Now I'm only about 10 per cent short and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that tonight will see me back to normal.

"The way I felt last week, I could have played in an emergency (for the first team) . . . if I had been needed."

Spectators driving to tonight's reserve game at the Reebok should use Car Park A at the south end of the statium.

Wolves turned up the heat in the promotion race last night with a 3-0 victory over struggling Crewe. The win strengthened the Molineux men's position in the play-off zone, taking them within two points of Wanderers, who still lie fifth in the table but with a game in hand on all their rivals.

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