Bolton V Birmingham at Reebok Stadium - Match Preview




Davies in line for start

Bolton skipper Kevin Davies could return to the starting XI when they host Birmingham.

Davies missed the Boxing Day defeat to Sheffield Wednesday after serving a one-match ban and could replace Benik Afobe.

Marvin Sordell is also pushing for inclusion to partner David Ngog in the Trotters' attack.

Defender Sam Ricketts was replaced by Marcos Alonso against the Owls but manager Dougie Freedman expects him to be fit for the visit of the Blues.

Freedman also admitted his side are still adjusting to the npower Championship following relegation from the Premier League last season.

"The attitude is fine. I think it's the understanding of the division," he told BBC Sport. "You can't just turn up and expect to win because you've had some Premier League experience. You have to do the small things correctly."

Defender Matt Mills (thigh) and midfielder Mark Davies (shoulder) remain on the sidelines alongside knee-injury victims Stuart Holden, David Wheater and Josh Vela.

Jonathan Spector boasts an outside chance of returning for Birmingham.

The midfielder has missed the last three matches with an ankle injury but is facing a race against time to be available for the clash at the Reebok Stadium.

Fellow American Will Packwood missed the 2-1 Boxing Day win at Barnsley due to illness and the defender will also be assessed.

Otherwise, manager Lee Clark does not expect any further players to return to the fold in time for the encounter as Blues aim for back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

That means strikers Marlon King (knee), Peter Lovenkrands (calf) and Akwasi Asante (hamstring), midfielders Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring) and Darren Ambrose (knee) as well as defenders Paul Caddis (hamstring), David Murphy and Stephen Carr all remain absent.


Source: PA

Source: PA