MARK Fish's international commitments could strike a hammer blow to Wanderers' defensive plans in the promotion run-in.

Colin Todd, fortunate to have no fixture this weekend while the South African centre-back is away on African Nations Cup duty, won't be so lucky as the race for the Premiership hots up.

Fish has at least three, possibly four, international dates that could rule him out of crucial fixtures in February, March and April and Wanderers could face yet another club v country row if they are involved in the end of season play-offs.

Dates have yet to be arranged but South Africa are due to meet Saudi Arabia, home and away, in the Afro-Asian Cup in May. If the games are FIFA sanctioned and the South African FA insist on naming the Bolton man, Todd could lose one of his key defenders when he needs all hands to the pumps!

More immediately, Wanderers must legislate for being without Fish when they meet Crewe at home on February 27 - the day of their Nations Cup qualifier at home to Gabon. And, even if he jets straight back from Johannesburg, he may not be considered for selection for the game at Huddersfield on Tuesday, March 2.

The return game against Mauritius on March 30 will mean another dash back to play at Oxford four days later while the qualifier in Gabon on April 10 will certainly rule him out of that day's game at Watford.

Fish and Per Frandsen are expected be on duty when Denmark meet South Africa in Copenhagen on April 28. But the midweek friendly shouldn't affect Todd's selection plans for the home game against Wolves the following Saturday.

Frandsen and Claus Jensen are expected to be involved in the Denmark squads - first team and under-21s - for their friendlies in Croatia on February 9 and 10 while Jussi Jaaskelainen will be on international duty for Finland. But again, they should not hinder Wanderers.

Sure to be hit though is the March 27 home game against Bristol City - the fixture Todd tried in vain to get re-arranged for this weekend. In addition to Fish being in South Africa for the Mauritius game, Denmark, Iceland and Finland all have European Championship qualifiers which could put Frandsen, Jensen, Jaaskelainen, Arnar Gunnlaugsson, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Brikir Kristinsson out of play.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.