SAM Allardyce took a swipe at the Football Association today after Kevin Nolan was re-routed to Italy with the England Unders 21s as he was packing his bags for Dubai.

The Wanderers' boss said it was "ludicrous" that U21s coach David Platt gave them just four days' notice that Nolan was wanted for Tuesday night's friendly international in Italy.

"I love Kevin and I want him to go and play for the England U21s, but please let's have a bit of courtesy," the manager said.

"He was packing his bags on Friday to go to Dubai after going down to West Brom with us on Saturday and we get a call saying he's going to be in the U21s. It's a ludicrous situation."

Wanderers already knew that Jamaican duo Ricardo Gardner and Jermaine Johnson plus Finland keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and France U21 star Bernard Mendy would all be on international duty this week and did not include them in the Dubai trip. But there was no indication that Nolan, a second half substitute in the 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns, would be in Platt's squad until late Friday afternoon.

"It's a great shout for Kevin," Allardyce acknowledged, "but rather too late from the FA. They are an absolute joke ringing to let us know at that late stage."

"Do they not think that other people have other things arranged and other things to do?

"We had our warm climate training sorted out. The other four players involved in international football this week knew well in advance."