GARY Megson returns to the Hawthorns for the first time tomorrow since being sacked as West Brom boss.

But the Bolton manager refuses to send out his team to help close any lingering personal wounds.

"It doesn't matter to me what kind of reception I get or don't get," he said. "But they are fantastic supporters. And I would expect them to support the football club like they've always done.

"I enjoyed my time down there, I got sacked and I moved on.

"But I thought it was a successful period when I was there, considering where we left them and where they were to start with."

Megson gained two promotions from the Championship, but a fall-out with chairman Jeremy Peace ended in his departure in October 2004.

However, the Trotters' chief does admit to some happy memories.

"It was incredible to get the 'Brummie' Road end to do the 'Boing Boing' with just my wife and kid there when we got promotion the first time.

"But I'm not really nostalgic and their business isn't mine any more.

"We are simply looking to get three points to get closer to safety margin.

"People go on about safety targets but no-one knows, and I certainly don't, what total will be needed.

"However, we are in a relegation zone that I think consists of nine teams.

"But we're the best placed of those nine and we've got to get safe as soon as we can."

With Mark Davies out of contention with a knee injury, Fabrice Muamba is expected to start in midfield.

Megson's big dilemma is whether to axe Andy O'Brien after his two errors against Fulham.

Former Bolton defender Abdoulaye Meite has been ruled out of West Brom’s Barclays Premier League match against Gary Megson’s side at the Hawthorns tomorrow, with a hamstring injury.

Fellow centre-back Leon Barnett is facing several weeks on the sidelines with a knee problem, and Baggies boss Tony Mowbray is set to persevere with the new defensive pairing of Jonas Olsson and Shelton Martis.

Megson will be returning to his former club, whom he twice led to promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship, for the first time since his departure four years ago.

West Bromwich Albion (from): Carson, Zuiverloon, Olsson, Martis, Robinson, Morrison, Dorrans, Koren, Brunt, Greening, Fortune, Teixeira, Simpson, Moore, Kiely, Hoefkens, Cech, Bednar.

Bolton Wanderers (from): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O’Brien, Samuel, Riga, Taylor, McCann, Muamba, Gardner, Kevin Davies, Elmander, Al Habsi, Hunt, Puygrenier, Makukula, Shittu

West Brom league form: DLLLD

Bolton league form: LWWLL

Key opponent: Jonathan Greening - gifted midfielder will need to be watched

Prediction: West Brom 0 Bolton 1 - Bolton should be looking for an away win

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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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