Knight hoping for return

Knight, who has been sidelined with a knee injury he picked up in February, played for the reserves in their 3-0 victory over Blackpool on Tuesday night and is now aiming to take part in this weekend's Barclays Premier League clash with the Hammers, eight days before Wanderers take on Stoke in the FA Cup semi-finals.

It would appear to be a timely return, but in the 30-year-old's absence, David Wheater has formed a partnership with Gary Cahill in central defence and Knight accepts Bolton boss Owen Coyle could be left with a selection dilemma.

"It felt good to get back on the pitch," Knight told the club`s official website. "I've come in with a clean sheet so hopefully I can step it up again on Thursday and Friday so the manager can make a decision on Saturday, but I'm happy to be back part of the team.

"I've felt good in training and I felt good out there for 45 minutes, but until I get myself out there in the Premier League you're not to know if I can play the full game. I was itching to get back in the side against Birmingham the other day but the gaffer just told me to have a good week's training and play 45 minutes in the reserves. Hopefully I'll be there or thereabouts.

"I wouldn't expect to walk straight back into the team as that would be disrespectful to David Wheater and Gary Cahill and their performances. I'll work hard and we'll see where we can go from there and what the gaffer decides."

Source: PA

Source: PA