GAETANO Giallanza has his sights on a dream double after joining Wanderers' fight to stay in the Premiership.

The Swiss-born striker is determined to help his new side beat the drop and, at the same time, breathe new life into his own ambition...to play for Italy!

Giallanza is on loan from French club FC Nantes until the end of the season and will make his debut alongside Dean Holdsworth against Leicester at the Reebok on Saturday.

But the 23-year-old has been quick to set the record straight on his international credentials, correcting previous reports that he has won Swiss U-21 caps.

"I spent three days with the Swiss national squad and they wanted me to play for them," he said. "But my parents were born in Sicily and I hold an Italian passport so I can play for Italy. "I am still waiting; as you say, I am keeping my options open. Roberto Di Matteo played in Switzerland until he was 23 but went on to play for Italy. I would like to do the same."

Giallanza, who played for Zurich club Servette, Young Boys Berne and Basle before a £1.2 million transfer to Nantes last summer, is out of the picture with the French club who are in transition under a new manager.

He believes an impressive loan period with Wanderers could lead to a permanent deal in the summer but he has been made fully aware of the urgency of the situation.

"The next two games against Leicester and Arsenal are very important," he acknowledged. "Whatever country you play in, you know you must always win your home games."

It is looking increasingly likely that Giallanza, whose international clearance came through this morning, will be Wanderers' only new signing before tomorrow's transfer deadline. Colin Todd had hoped to add at least one more player to his survival squad and confirmed having had a bid rejected for a French-based striker.

There were hopes that that deal could be revived but Todd was offered no encouragement by the selling club.

Gerry Taggart's comeback has been put on ice. The Northern Ireland defender, who hasn't started a senior game for five months, was lined up to play in tonight's reserve game against Huddersfield at Leigh RMI.

But Todd says the game has come too early in Taggart's recovery programme.

Per Frandsen looks the only likely starter of the Wanderers' international brigade on duty for tonight's friendlies. He is expected to start against Scotland at Ibrox while goalkeepers Keith Branagan and Jussi Jaaskelainen will be on the subs' bench for the Republic of Ireland and Finland respectively.

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