GARY Megson has dismissed speculation linking Jussi Jaaskelainen with a January move to Spurs or Newcastle.

Bolton's Premier League rivals have reportedly shown an interest in the Finnish international.

However, Megson says ahead of the trip to struggling Sunderland: "I wouldn't have thought there was anything in it. Jussi signed a four-year contract a few months ago.

"And while it does happen, players can move despite a deal like that, I don't think this is anything other than conjecture.

"There has certainly been no contact through me and I don't think through the chairman.

"Jussi seems happy here. He took his kids to view a new school on Wednesday and I would expect him to stay.

"He was out of contract in the summer and you read about teams that were interested in him.

"But we always thought if we could come up with a figure that suited Jussi, he would stay.

"He seems happy and his wife and children are settled here."

Pressure

Jaaskelainen was far from his best last season and came under pressure from the fine performances of Ali Al Habsi.

In the summer, it seemed he would end his 10-year association with the Trotters.

But a new deal was struck and Wanderers have been rewarded with some outstanding displays, notably on the east coast at Hull and Middlesbrough.

Megson is looking for more of the same from his last line of defence at the Stadium of Light.

"Jussi is a talented lad and his game against Hull was exceptional," says the Bolton boss.

Megson is expected to name an unchanged side to face the Black Cats.

Meanwhile, Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon will not make the game despite his return to training.

The £9million signing has missed the last seven games with a cracked ankle bone, and is close to a return, but like defender George McCartney (foot), tomorrow’s game will come too soon for him.

Pascal Chimbonda, El-Hadji Diouf and Daryl Murphy, who played for the reserves in midweek, will all be in contention as the Black Cats attempt to end a run of three successive home defeats.

Sunderland (from): Fulop, Colgan, Bardsley, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Malbranque, Whitehead, Tainio, Leadbitter, Edwards, Miller, Yorke, Richardson, Reid, Henderson, Colback, Diouf, Cisse, Jones, Murphy, Healy.

Bolton Wanderers (from): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, A O’Brien, Samuel, Nolan, Riga, McCann, Muamba, Gardner, Taylor, Davies, Elmander, Al Habsi, Shittu, Smolarek, Basham, Cohen, Fojut.

Sunderland league form: LLLWL

Bolton league form: LWWLW

Key opponent: Kieran Richardson - powerful left foot makes him a threat from set-pieces

Prediction: Sunderland 1 Bolton 1 - Bolton are probably stronger but home advantage balances this out

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You can get 7/1 on Bolton winning 1-0 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.

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