NATHAN Blake could be left to shoulder the responsibility for firing Wanderers into Football League history at Tranmere on Sunday.

Mixu Paatelainen has joined John McGinlay on the casualty list, leaving Colin Todd with a striking problem as he prepares his side for their last-match bid to score an unique double century of 100 points and 100 goals.

The Moose has suffered a recurrence of the ankle injury that kept him out of this season's Championship-winning action until February.

He limped out of a training session with Finland on Tuesday and missed the following night's 1-1 draw in Norway - one of the surprise results of this week's World Cup qualifiers.

With top scorer McGinlay considered extremely doubtful for the Prenton Park finale, Wanderers may have to rely on 23-goal Blake to lead their attack, possibly with Scott Taylor as his front line partner.

With promotion and the Championship having long been secured, the Tranmere game is largely academic. But Todd, who will have Jamie Pollock available again after suspension, stressed his determination to see his team sign off on a high note when he insisted: "This is a game we want to win.

"We've achieved a lot this season and done remarkably well. But it's important we go out trying to win the game.

"I'm sure the players will be fine in that respect but Tranmere won't make it easy for us and, if we don't win, it won't be for the want of trying.

"We'll have another tremendous following, having sold our full allocation of about 5,500 tickets. We don't want to let them down and we certainly don't want to let ourselves down."

As is customary on the final day of the season, many Wanderers fans are planning to turn Sunday's game into a carnival of colour by travelling to Tranmere in fancy dress.

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