Entering into his third season at the Reebok, the big defender praised the role of his manager in helping him rediscover his best form after a shaky start to his Bolton career.
And he insists he is ready to repay Coyle by becoming his defensive lynchpin if either of Arsenal or Tottenham capture ?17million-rated Cahill.
"Every game I've been selected I have played 90 minutes, so it shows the manager and his staff have got trust in me," he told the Bolton News.
"Hopefully, that will stand me in good stead for next season.
"My first season here was stop-start. I didn't want to use the excuse of changing clubs but it was a different environment, and everywhere you go, you have got to get used to certain things.
"When the new manager came in, there was a change, and hopefully people saw that in me.
"It was upsetting getting injured in February but I got back and stamped my place in the team. It's nice when the manager trusts in you that much."
Should Cahill leave this summer, Knight and David Wheater would go into the season as the only fit senior centre-halves at Coyle's disposal.
The manager is thought to have his eye on a number of replacements but much will rest on which one of the interested parties comes forward with an acceptable bid, as both Spurs and Arsenal are willing to offer players in exchange.
Knight has big hopes for Wheater, however, and feels he could well force himself into the international frame, given the right run in the first team next season.
"There's a lot of speculation about Gaz going here and there," he said. "And what will happen will happen. But I know that Wheater is a good defender and expectations are high for him.
"He's had a little taste of things in the England set-up and I do believe he'd like to get back to that level.
"Me and Gaz have held down the centre-back spot but it's for him to keep doing what he's doing.
"We bought him for a reason. The manager thinks he's good enough if anything were to happen to me or Gaz, or there was a loss of form.
"Next season he'll have been there from the start, so that will be a big challenge for him."
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk