Bolton V Sheff Wed at Reebok Stadium - Match Preview




Davies blow for Bolton

Bolton will be without captain Kevin Davies when they host Sheffield Wednesday.

Davies collected his fifth booking of the season after 20 minutes of Saturday's topsy-turvy 5-4 defeat at Peterborough.

Benik Afobe and Marvin Sordell are in the frame to replace Davies in attack, although boss Dougie Freedman will also run the rule over David Ngog.

The former Liverpool striker came off the bench to score both goals in Wanderers' last outing at the Reebok Stadium - a 2-0 win over Charlton - but, having suffered with hamstring trouble throughout the season, was an injury absentee once more at London Road.

Whether Ngog is suffering from a recurrence of his previous problems is unclear, although Afobe and Sordell impressed as substitutes during Bolton's second-half fightback on Saturday.

On-loan Arsenal youngster Afobe scored their third goal, while winger Martin Petrov also came off the bench to set up a grandstand finish with number four and could also come into Freedman's thoughts from the start.

Marcos Alonso is favourite to come in at left-back after Stephen Warnock's return to Aston Villa at the end of his loan spell.

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

Sheffield Wednesday will be without Jeremy Helan for their cross-Pennines trip.

Young Frenchman Helan netted in added time to help the Owls clinch a 2-0 home win over Charlton on Saturday before returning to parent club Manchester City at the end of his loan spell.

Manager Dave Jones is also set to be without veteran midfielder David Prutton who limped off injured in the 67th minute against the Addicks.

His replacement, Chris Lines, is expected to continue for the meeting with Dougie Freedman's Trotters as Wednesday go looking for their third win in a row.

And they may be boosted by the availability of striker Jay Bothroyd. He has missed the last two matches with an ankle problem but hopes to get in a full training session ahead of the game.

Towering defender Reda Johnson is set to play at the Reebok Stadium after a return to the team on Saturday. He had been out since mid-September with a foot injury.

And Rhys McCabe will continue in midfield, boosted by netting his first senior goal for the Owls against Charlton.

Defender Jose Semedo is missing, though, due to a cut on his knee but Jermaine Johnson, an unused substitute on Saturday, hopes to get game time.


Source: PA

Source: PA