Bolton made a move for Wolves' Adam Hammill

Trotters boss and former Wolves striker Dougie Freedman contacted Molineux counterpart Dean Saunders just before the loan window shut last Thursday to enquire about the 25-year-old's availability.

But the former Crystal Palace chief was told Hammill wasn't being allowed to leave.

Bolton eventually signed West Ham wide man Rob Hall, 19, who recently had a loan spell at Birmingham, playing 13 games from November to February, including a 3-1 defeat at Bolton, for the rest of the season.

Huddersfield, now managed by Hammill's old manager at Barnsley, Mark Robins, were also keen on taking the tricky wide man again.

He spent four and a half months there earlier this season, playing 16 games, but Wolves wouldn't allow him to join another relegation rival.

The decision to keep Hammill could now look a wise one after Wolves lost Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for the rest of the season with a broken leg in Monday's 3-2 win at Birmingham.

Hammill was an unused substitute in the St Andrew's victory but he may now have a bigger role to play in the run-in.

The one-time Liverpool FA Youth Cup winner would appear to be the 'next cab off the rank' after being preferred to Kevin Foley on the bench two days ago.

Saunders could keep Bjorn Sigurdarson at wide right but he may needed up front to replace 15-goal top scorer Ebanks-Blake, while he also has on-loan Wigan forward Nouha Dicko, who can play wide or up front.