Bolton V Middlesbrough at Reebok Stadium - Match Preview




Double blow for play-off chasing Trotters

Bolton will be without Jay Spearing and David Ngog as they look to mount a final npower Championship play-off push against Middlesbrough.

On-loan Liverpool midfielder Spearing sustained a broken toe during last weekend's 2-1 win at Bristol City and will miss three weeks, while former Reds striker Ngog's season is over after he suffered a dislocated shoulder during Tuesday night's 3-2 loss to top-six rivals Leicester.

Medo Kamara and youngster Josh Vela lined-up in a five-man midfield in midweek as boss Dougie Freedman named Ngog as his lone frontman.

Vela would appear most likely to make way if Marvin Sordell and Craig Davies are selected in attack, while Tom Eaves is poised for a place on the bench once more having dislodged Kevin Davies from the matchday squad.

Wanderers' midweek loss at the King Power Stadium means they lie a point outside the play-off places with three matches remaining this season.

David Wheater (calf) is closing in on a return to fitness but fellow defender Tyrone Mears (illness) is set to remain on the sidelines alongside long-term absentee Mark Davies (knee).

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray will make a late decision on defender Jonathan Woodgate.

The 33-year-old missed Tuesday night's 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest with muscle tightness and is currently being assessed.

Midfielder Merouane Zemmama also sat out the Forest game with an ankle problem sustained during the 2-0 home defeat by Brighton three days earlier and remains a doubt.

Striker Lukas Jutkiewicz suffered a knock in the same game and was also absent in midweek, and he too will have to prove his fitness.

However, fellow frontman Emmanuel Ledesma may not play again this season because of a niggling ankle problem and joins George Friend (hamstring) and Julio Arca (toe) on the sidelines.

Source: PA

Source: PA