WANDERERS’ race to remove their registration embargo has seen an extra degree of urgency added, with a hip injury threatening Ben Alnwick’s participation on Monday night.

Phil Parkinson’s first-choice keeper has a problem with the muscles at the top of the thigh, meaning he is a doubt to face West Bromwich Albion.

Alnwick’s understudy, Remi Matthews, has been forced to return to Norwich City due to Wanderers’ inability to extend his loan stay.

Parkinson insists work is being carried out behind the scenes to have the Canaries stopper back as soon as possible, and it has been confirmed a PFA loan, taken out to pay wages, has now been repaid.

“We’re making progress,” he said. “Things are looking a lot more positive as I speak today, we’re working on that, I spoke to Ken [Anderson] this morning.

“We’re looking better and we hope it can be completely resolved in the coming days.

“Ideally, we’ll be able to do some business soon, it’s a delicate situation, the chairman is in ongoing discussions so let’s just see how it works out in the next couple of days.”

The next in line for Monday’s game would be under-23s keeper Jake Turner.

Parkinson has had to look on with envy as his rivals near the foot of the Championship inject new blood to their squads.

He has also lost the services of Yanic Wildschut for an estimated three months. The winger aside, Bolton have just two injury concerns as they prepare to bid to complete a double over the Baggies.

But while Gary O’Neil – out of contract at the end of December – has agreed a longer stay, it is Alnwick’s possible absence in Monday’s televised match that is a more pressing matter.

“Gary’s a player we’ve got an agreement with until the end of the season and we’d like him to sign that because Gaz is a key player in terms of his ability,” he added.

“He’s got a bit of an injury at the moment but he’s closing in on a return to training and hopefully by the weekend we’ll have him back on the training ground.

“Ben Alnwick has got a bit of a problem with his hip flexor, but everybody else has been on the training pitch.

“Jack Hobbs and Andy Taylor have been back in training, they’ve trained all week, and Marc Wilson has also had a good week, which he needed after his injury over the Christmas period.

“Obviously we’re working to bring Remi back, that’s a key one for us, he’s keen to come back and we’re working towards that.”