DOUGIE Freedman insists the door is open to any one of his four strikers to prove themselves a play-off hero.

With David Ngog now out for the season, the Wanderers boss appears to be left with a choice between Craig Davies, Marvin Sordell, Kevin Davies and Tom Eaves for the final three games, starting with the visit of Middlesbrough on Saturday.

The indications are that Craig Davies will partner Sordell for the first time – but after recalling Eaves from a loan spell at Shrewsbury Town and dropping club captain Kevin Davies from the squad altogether on Tuesday night, Freedman says that anyone could still play their part.

“Some players who have not been playing will now need to step up,” he said.

“We are short on numbers but to be fair to the lads who have come into the team, they have done well.

“We had Matt Mills and young Chris Lester at the (Leicester) game and we’re a group of players who want to move forward together. I have to make decisions now.”

The exclusion of skipper Davies at the King Power Stadium raised eyebrows around the Wanderers support – leaving some to speculate whether he has played his last game for the club after 10 years of service.

The 36-year-old striker has not played for the club since it was confirmed he would be leaving in the summer but Freedman has urged people not to read too much into his absence at Leicester.

“I’ve said I’m trying to get younger players in,” he said.

“Josh Vela came in (against Leicester) and did fantastic – Tom Eaves came on at the end because I feel we've got to go with the unknown a little bit. Tom could be a surprise package for us and we've just got to get him on the pitch as often as we can to move things forward.

“Kevin has got that experience but we'll just have to wait and see how he is, and how other players are around him.”