BOLTON'S Colin Hendry goes into tomorrow's crucial clash with Barnsley hit hard by the news that his international career was almost certainly at an end.

Former Blackburn Rovers ace Hendry was handed a six-match ban and a £4,000 fine by FIFA for elbowing San Marino's Nicola Albani in last month's World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park.

And, although the decision is subject to appeal, if ratified it would effectively put the 35-year-old out of the international picture for a year.

It's a blow to the man on the eve of Bolton's trip to Oakwell for a game they must win to stay in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

With Blackburn Rovers playing on Sunday a win would take Bolton back to within a point of Rovers - anything else would virtually guarantee the Ewood side second spot and a return to the top flight.

Young Wanderers midfielder Kevin Nolan is the major doubt for Saturday's televised clash.

Manager Sam Allardyce said: "Kevin pulled his groin in training. I don't expect him to recover by the weekend."

Nolan has made 27 league appearances and scored three goals so far this season but hasn't featured for the first team since he was substituted during the 2-2 draw with Birmingham City on Good Friday.

One Bolton player going into the game on a high note will be Ricardo Gardner.

He scored direct from a corner as Jamaica were held to a 1-1 draw by Honduras in their World Cup CONCACAF qualifying game in Kingston in midweek.

However, Oakwell is the scene of one of the lowest moments of Gardner's career, last season there he damaged his cruciate ligament and was out of action for six months.

Meanwhile, as Hendry considers fighting to save his international future today, fellow Scot John McGinlay accused FIFA of going over the top in punishing the Wanderers' defender.

"If big Colin had been a Brazilian, French, German or English player there's no way they'd have hammered him like they did," McGinlay claimed.

"They've made an example of him because he's not such a high profile player and, as far as FIFA is concerned, it's only Scotland. The sentence wouldn't have been anywhere near as harsh if he'd been a big name player with one of the major nations."

Hendry said he was "stunned and disappointed" at the severity of the sentence which, if he accepted it, could bring a premature end to his 51-match international career.

"I am awaiting a full written submisssion from FIFA, pending an appeal," he added, "and I don't think it is helpful to say any more at this time."

McGinlay played the majority of his 14 internationals for Scotland alongside Hendry and knows the 35-year-old defender well.

Although the elbowing incident was clearly caught on camera, he insists it was out of character.

"It's a major blow to Scotland because Colin's the captain and was in a rich vein of form," he explains, "but for Colin himself it's absolutely devastating.

"The big fella gives as good as he gets but you wouldn't class him as a dirty player. Whatever Colin dishes out, he gets double back."

"I know him, I roomed with him and, like me, he's from the Highlands so we've both got similar backgrounds.

"I know playing for Scotland means a hell of a lot to him and six games - that's a long time to be out of international football. And all because of one rash moment.

"The big fella gives as good as he gets but you wouldn't class him as a dirty player. Whatever Colin dishes out, he gets double back."