Wanderers fear they could be fighting a losing battle in their efforts to have Mark Fish and Ricardo Gardner available for the first leg of their Worthington Cup semi-final showdown with Tranmere.

Both players have been called up for international duty and, despite pleas from the Reebok, the authorities in South Africa and Jamaica don't appear to be ready to make concessions.

Unless there is a rethink, both will miss the home leg on Wednesday, January 12. Fish has already been ruled out of the return at Prenton Park on the 26th but Gardner will be available.

The intransigence of the South Africans is particularly annoying for Sam Allardyce. He is resigned to losing Fish for the duration of the African Nations Cup, which runs from January 21 to February 15, hence the signing of Hearts defender Paul Ritchie on an extended loan deal. But the influential and in-form defender has been ordered to report on January 9 - 12 days before the tournament kicks off.

"We're asking for guidance from the FA," Wanderers' chief executive Des McBain confirmed. "We think the South Africans are asking for Mark to report much earlier than they are entitled to.

"Five days before is the usual rule and that wouldn't be so bad. At least it would make Mark available for the first leg of the Cup tie."

Gardner will miss a huge chunk of fixtures in February while he is on duty with the Reggae Boys in the Concacaf Gold Cup in the United States (February 12 to 27) and faces the prospect of missing the Worthington Cup Final, should Wanderers book their place in the February 27 Wembley showpiece.

But he has also been called up for two warm-up friendlies on January 10 and 16 which, in addition from ruling him out of the first leg of the Tranmere tie, would also put him out of play for the league game at QPR on the 15th.

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