Bolton vs Everton preview - Elmander must decide

Posted Sunday, February 13, 2011 by PA

Bolton boss Owen Coyle is happy to leave it up to top scorer Johan Elmander to decide whether he stays at the club.

The 29-year-old Swede, who was Wanderers' record signing when they bought him from Toulouse in 2008 for #8.2million, is out of contract in the summer and Coyle does not expect the striker to sign a new deal before then.

Elmander, who has been linked with a move to Newcastle, is enjoying by far his best season at the Reebok Stadium with 10 goals and has formed a good partnership with captain Kevin Davies.

Coyle insisted he is not unhappy with the situation, saying: "The chairman had a chat with Johan's representative in November/December time and it was a good discussion.

"I think at that time it was left that they would have a chat in spring, and that was fine because that told me Johan didn't want to leave in January.

"Johan's well within his own rights to let his contract run to the summer, which will happen, and then decide what he wants to do.

"But I know the chairman is looking to speak to his representative in the next couple of weeks and we'll see what comes of that.

"Johan's been very up front and honest so I've got absolutely no problem with that. He's a top lad and a terrific player and I would love to keep him at the football club.

"But, equally, I have to be understanding and, if Johan wants something further down the line for himself or his family, then so be it."

Bolton head into Sunday's match against Everton looking for only their second win in eight Barclays Premier League games, and Coyle is in no doubt what is partly responsible for that run.

The Trotters boss was left fuming by a number of decisions in last weekend's 2-1 defeat by Tottenham, when referee Mark Clattenburg awarded Spurs two penalties and booked Gary Cahill for diving instead of giving the visitors a spot-kick of their own.

Coyle believes his side have not had the rub of the green on too many occasions this season and he made his feelings known to referees chief Mike Riley this week.

He added: "I've said my piece. I'm happy that I did and now I've moved on. I've got a game this Sunday to look forward to and I can't affect what's happened.

"It's important you do get it off your chest because if you allow that to fester then it just makes it bigger.

"If I look at a lot of games this season then I think it's been a travesty what's happened. I'm sitting here on 33 points and I believe we should easily have 40 points in the league and that's just through decisions that haven't gone our way.

"They say it evens itself out. I don't personally believe in that, because if it did then I think we'd be due about 20 decisions in the last part of the season."

Coyle has no fresh injuries to worry about but he will assess the fitness of his international contingent before deciding on a team for the Reebok Stadium contest.

Everton manager David Moyes could have decisions to make at both ends of the pitch.

The form of Louis Saha in recent weeks - including a four-goal haul in last week's thrilling 5-3 win over Blackpool - appeared to have put an end to the Toffees' goalscoring problems.

But with the Frenchman having now suffered an injury which rules him out, Moyes will have to make a change.

Moyes must also address the issue of a leaky defence which has not kept a clean sheet for 10 games and conceded three against Blackpool.

Moyes said: "I like to score - I am a supporter as well - I like to see goals in action.

"But when you are the manager and do the work - I look at the defensive mistakes we made in the last game and I can't take pride in that."

One change Moyes could make at the back would be to restore England defender Phil Jagielka, who after a spell out with a thigh injury has come off the bench in the last two games.