SAM Allardyce admits he hasn't got a penny to spend as he desperately searches for more firepower in his bid to keep Bolton Wanderers on the promotion trail.

The Reebok boss is scouring Europe for the man he wants to replace striker Isaiah Rankin whose loan spell ends on Saturday.

Rankin, a substitute in last night's 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers which lifted Wanderers to fourth in the First Division, is preparing to head back to Bradford City with Wanderers in no position to match the Yorkshire club's £1m valuation - or anything like it.

"I would like to bring in another striker if I could find one," explained Allardyce.

"We don't have any money at present so we couldn't sign Isaiah Rankin even if Bradford lowered their asking price.

"I could only afford to bring him in on a free at the moment."

Wanderers are running the rule over two strikers in training at the moment, Carsten Fredgard from Sunderland and a Finnish forward.

But the tight financial situation means that Wanderers are going to have to go with what they've got for the moment at least.

The lack of options meant that Allardyce had to shuffle his pack last night, bringing Bo Hansen in from the right flank to play alongside Michael Ricketts in a twin strikeforce and playing with three midfield players in more central roles.

But the situation could be about to ease dramatically before Saturday's visit to Birmingham City who go into the St Andews clash one place and one point higher than Wanderers in fourth place.

Dean Holdsworth is making good progress in his bid to shake off a groin injury and play against his twin brother David's team, Ian Marshall will definitely be fit after missing last night while Paul Warhurst could soon be back in action after shaking off injury which has sidelined him for every game bar one.

He was due to play in tonight's reserve clash at Burnley but will have to wait to get vital match action under his belt after the Turf Moor game was postponed this morning.

Meanwhile, Allardyce praised the inner strength his players showed in winning only their second game in nine attempts last night.

He said: "The composure we showed gave me the greatest satisfaction.

"It didn't matter how we did it as long as we won the game but we did it in style and the players showed a good response to going a goal behind.

"A win like this takes the pressure off. Now we have to play as well at Birmingham as we did at Watford and we will get a result unless we get the same kind of referee as we had at Watford."