Bolton vs West Brom preview - Davies back for Trotters

Posted Sunday, December 26, 2010 by PA

Bolton midfielder Mark Davies returns from suspension for the Barclays Premier League clash against West Brom on Boxing Day.

Davies has served a one-match ban following his dismissal in the victory over Blackburn a fortnight ago.

Owen Coyle is otherwise likely to have an unchanged squad with Joey O'Brien, Sean Davis, Ricardo Gardner and Jlloyd Samuel all still sidelined. Winger Lee Chung-yong could play his last game before joining up with South Korea for the Asia Cup in Qatar.

Coyle is keen - but not desperate - to bolster his threadbare squad next month.

The Trotters are short on numbers with just 19 fit senior players available and further injuries would make the need for new signings when the transfer window opens imperative but Coyle says he will only move into the market if he can find the right players.

Coyle said: "We have the smallest squad in the Barclays Premier League but we don't moan about it, we get on with it.

"We would love to add the squad, we would love to help the group we have, add a bit of freshness.

"But that takes a number of things to come to fruition - player availability, finance, does the player want to come.

"There are a few boxes to be ticked before that could happen but it wouldn't ever stop us from looking to add the right type of player and the right type of character to the group.

"But I won't bring players in for the sake of numbers. If I bring players in it is because I believe they are going to help the squad we have got and improve the football club."

Roberto Di Matteo insists West Brom's only goal this season is to finally end their yo-yo existence between the Championship and Premier League.

The Baggies are in their best ever Premier League position at this stage of a season - 11th - and have already accumulated 22 points.

It is in stark contrast to their constant battles against relegation after previous promotions and has included a win at Arsenal and a draw away to Manchester United.

But Di Matteo has his feet firmly on the ground ahead of the Boxing Day clash.

He said: "There are no expectations on the team. We have one target this year, to stop being a yo-yo club.

"We are pleased with the points we have now but we want more.

"We've had a positive run this season and a negative run and who knows what's going to happen next.

"I try to stay level-headed. We need to not get too negative if things aren't going well or too over-excited if we are doing well.

"There is no points target. We just want to be as successful as we can and see where we remain at the end.

"Hopefully we will have enough points to remain in the Premiership."