GARY Megson believes Bolton can prosper as a club by following the blueprint used by Saturday's opponents Everton.
The Wanderers' boss is full of praise for the job being done by David Moyes at Goodison Park.
And he thinks the Everton model would work well at the Reebok Stadium.
"I think they are definitely a pointer for ourselves," said Megson. "I know David Moyes very well and to be where they are at the moment is remarkable.
"He has a small squad but it is packed with lots of quality players. And he started building that maybe five or six years ago. He has built a very, very good side there.
"We're still trying to do what we set out to when we first came in, and that is raise the quality slowly but surely.
"But if you just do that and end up with 45 players, you give yourself other issues.
"We don't have the finance to do what we want to immediately - we have to do it brick by brick. But when you are doing a transfer it needs to be right for the player, right for the club looking to bring them in and the club looking to let him go.
"And it wasn't in the last few days of the transfer window. So, we'll go with what we've got."
Megson added three players to his squad last month - Sebastien Puygrenier, Ariza Makukula and Mark Davies.
The trio will help try to take advantage of the Merseysiders' leg weariness.
"I went to the game against Liverpool," said Megson of Everton's dramatic FA Cup replay win.
"Everton might have played in midweek when we didn't and played two hours of a really intense derby.
"But they have also had a terrific boost by scoring in the last minute against their local rivals and going through to the next round. That will have given them a massive lift."
Bolton will again be without Johan Elmander and Gavin McCann, who could return for the visit of West Ham on February 21.
On-loan striker Jo is set for his Everton debut after his deadline day move from Manchester City.
The Brazil international was cup-tied for the Toffees’ midweek replay win over Merseyside rivals Liverpool but with no other fit strikers available he is likely to get his chance, although it may be from the bench as he is lacking match fitness.
Midfielders Marouane Fellaini (back) and Steven Pienaar (hamstring) both came off in midweek and are doubts.
Victor Anichebe, who reportedly had a training ground bust-up with boss David Moyes earlier this week, is not in the squad for the second match running with the manager stating the player is injured.
Everton (from): Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Jo, Gosling, Castillo, Rodwell, Neville, Osman, Arteta, Fellaini, Pienaar, Cahill, Nash, Yobo, Van der Meyde, Jacobsen, Jutkiewicz.
Bolton Wanderers (from): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, A O’Brien, Samuel, K Davies, Basham, Muamba, Gardner, Taylor, Cohen, Makukula, Puygrenier, Obadeyi, Al Habsi, Bogdan, M Davies, Smolarek, Riga, Shittu.
Everton league form: WWDDL
Bolton league form: LLLDW
Key opponent: Phil Jagielka - defender has been a rock for Everton of late
Prediction: Everton 1 Bolton 1 - Everton would be slight favourites but their midweek exertions could lead to fatigue
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
You can get 11/1 on Bolton winning 1-0 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click
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Preview: Everton v Bolton
February 06, 2009

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