AFTER weeks of making do and mending Wanderers will have an embarrassment of riches next week.

For the first time this season the full contingent of central defenders will be up, running and available for selection.

Chris Fairclough and Gerry Taggart return from suspension to join Gudni Bergsson and Alan Stubbs to present Colin Todd with the rare luxury of a selection dilemma for Saturday's Fourth round FA Cup clash with Leeds.

"I don't mind that in the least," the Wanderers boss said as he looked forward to having his squad almost back to full strength. "We've been scratching around for a while now and didn't really have many options - even up to today's game at Newcastle.

"But, all things being equal, I should have plenty of options next week. That's always a nice position to be in."

The irony of the centre-back situation is the fact that the Burnden management came in for some fierce criticism last summer when their first four signings were all central defenders. Fairclough came first, then Taggart - both earmarked for first team duties - before Todd and Roy McFarland looked to general squad strengthening with the signing of Andy Todd and Greg Strong. It was suspected and vehemently denied by the management at the time that Wanderers were paving the way for Stubbs' departure. As things turned out the England B defender stayed - and it was just as well.

Taggart missed the start of the season through injury, came back when Stubbs was rested following the breakdown of his proposed transfer to Blackburn, only to be swiftly relegated to the Reserves to sharpen up his form and fitness.

When Stubbs was injured, Taggart returned and when Bergsson was suspended, Stubbs was available again!

Now they are all back in harness with Simon Coleman hoping to be adding his name to the frame in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile Howard Wilkinson must prepare for the Burnden tie with a dearth of attacking talent. Tony Yeboah and Phil Massinga are on African Nations Cup duty while Lee Chapman, signed on loan as a surprising stop-gap measure, will be ruled out through suspension following his sending off against West Ham last week.

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