Bolton battle to have stars available for crunch games TUG-OF-WAR Wanderers have scored a major victory in one club v country tug-of-war and are bracing themselves for another.

Iceland have agreed to let key defender Gudni Bergsson report for international duty next Thursday, allowing him to play the night before in Wanderers' crucial Coca-Cola Cup replay at Leicester.

Now it looks like the Burnden management will have to use their powers of persuasion on the Yugoslavian FA.

They are currently waiting for confirmation from Belgrade that new £1.5 million signing Sasa Curcic is wanted for matches away to Mexico and El Salvador on November 12 and 15.

If he was selected - and he is currently Yugoslavia's first choice midfielder - Curcic would only be back on Thursday Nov16, leaving him just two days to recover from tiredness and jet-lag before the Premiership game at home to West Ham on Nov 18!

"We are aware of the internationals and so is Sasa but we haven't heard anything from the Yugoslavs so we can't make any representations," Burnden chief executive Des McBain said.

Aston Villa are in the same boat with Curcic's international teammate and former clubmate at Partizan Belgrade, Savo Milosevic. They are hoping to get the striker released from the El Salvador game so he can return to prepare for their Premiership fixture at home to Newcastle.

Wanderers, who could join forces with Villa in appealing to Belgrade, may be able to insist on the Yugoslavs freeing Curcic because the internationals are only friendlies. In the Bergsson case they were at the mercy of officials in Iceland, where they are preparing for their final European Championship qualifier in Hungary on November 11.

Bergsson's call-up arrangements would have ruled him out of the Leicester game but Colin Todd's approach to the Icelandic coach proved successful.

"It was terrific news," the Burnden boss said. "Fortunately for us, Iceland can't qualify. We certainly couldn't have expected to have got Gudni released if they stood any chance of reaching the finals.

"They appreciated the call and understood how important the Leicester game is for us and how important it is that we have Gudni available."

Wanderers have ruled out an approach for Leeds United wide man David White. The Burnden management have been made aware of the former Manchester City flier's availability but say they are not considering a move.

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