And he will have to wait nervously until tomorrow until he knows exactly what hand he is being dealt before Sunday's clash at the Britannia Stadium.

That will be when his international absentees reconvene after jetting off across the world last week.

Chief among his concerns will be Hassan Yebda and Nadir Belhadj returning from last night's sudden death World Cup play-off clash between Algeria and Egypt unscathed.

Hart will have a roll call which he will hope doesn't present any major surprises, after his players came through their respective countries' weekend outings unscathed.

Aruna Dindane played 87 minutes for Ivory Coast and impressed in their 3-0 victory over Guinea.

His side continued their build-up for South Africa next summer when they met Germany in Munich last night.

It was slightly surprising to see Dindane back in action after he came off with a hamstring problem at Blackburn.

And that was also the case for Yebda, who was left out at Ewood Park with a calf injury.

Kanu was an unused substitute for Nigeria at the weekend when they qualified in last-ditch fashion against Kenya, so should be fine.

Hart was frustrated that the players with knocks had to report for their country.

But he acknowledged he was powerless to do anything about it.

He said: There's nothing we can do.

'They have to do it for their country.

'Aruna was very tight after Blackburn and it was back-related, but he had to go.

'He did very well, though, for Ivory Coast, and created three goals. He played 87 minutes and came through okay.

'I wasn't surprised he played. He has a great appetite for the game.

'Yebda is okay at the moment as well. He has been training with Algeria and Nadir was fine before the game last night.'

Yebda and Belhadj found themselves at the heart of an incendiary clash between Algeria and Egypt, which took place in Sudan.

The two met after Egypt grabbed the goal they needed to take the match to a play-off five minutes into stoppage time on Saturday.

The game followed the Algeria team coming under siege in Cairo when their team bus was attacked.

Rocks were thrown through the bus window and one player was left with glass imbedded in his head.

Hart admitted there will be concern for his men until they are back in one piece.

He said: 'Our two got away and were fine (after their coach was attacked).

'No one got hurt too bad, but I'm just worrying about our ones.

'It's slightly scary and shouldn't have happened. It's disappointing.

'We have to keep our fingers crossed everyone gets back okay.'