Bolton Wanderers vs Norwich City preview - Coyle could ring changes

Posted Saturday, September 17, 2011 by PA

Bolton manager Owen Coyle is likely to freshen up his side for thes visit of Norwich after last weekend's 5-0 defeat to Manchester United.

New signings David Ngog and Tuncay Sanli both scored for the reserves in midweek while right-back Gretar Steinsson is pushing for a recall.

Midfielder Stuart Holden is close to a first-team return after six months out with a knee ligament injury but is likely to have to wait until next week's Carling Cup tie.

Coyle says the imminent return of Holden will be like signing a £10million player.

"Stuart played 90 minutes for the reserves the other night and did very well," said the Scot.

"There is no doubt day by day he is still improving but what we have to make sure is when we bring him back in it is not detrimental to the hard work he has done.

"Is Saturday too soon for him to start? Probably so. But having said that if he continues the way he has done I would certainly be hopeful of starting him on Tuesday against Villa in the Carling Cup.

"It will be a tremendous boost when you have a player of that quality returning. It is probably like going into the transfer market and signing a £10million player."

Norwich will have goalkeeper John Ruddy back from a one-match suspension.

Striker James Vaughan is available despite needing hospital treatment after being caught in the mouth by an elbow from West Brom defender Gabriel Tamas.

Winger Anthony Pilkington (back) should return to the squad, but centre-half Zak Whitbread (hamstring) and defenders Daniel Ayala and Elliot Ward (knee) remain out.

Boss Paul Lambert admits they cannot afford to keep giving away "soft" penalties, his side having conceded a spot-kick in each of their four league games.

"We are playing well enough, everyone can see that, we just have to convert our chances and cut out errors which are costing us. Having four penalties against us in four games is quite a high ratio," Lambert said.

"The one against Stoke was outside the box, and against West Brom, it was really soft, but that is what has happened to us. We just have to hope the luck will turn.

"It is a hard enough job to referee any game, they call it how they see it and you have to respect that decision, and hopefully we will get one or two decisions go our way. You cannot change what has happened but four penalties against us in four games? I have never known it. It is too much."