Bolton captain Kevin Davies is free to play in his team's vital relegation battle at Stoke - thanks to help from the M.E.N.

The Wanderers skipper received a suspended £7,500 fine on Thursday night after being found guilty of improper conduct towards Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg.

But Davies escaped a ban when he made a personal hearing in Manchester.

The 33-year-old striker suggested Tyne and Wear official Clattenburg had something "personal" against him after a disallowing a goal against Fulham on February 6.

Clattenburg later told Bolton boss Owen Coyle Davies had two hands in the back of defender Brede Hangeland but TV replays clearly showed that wasn't the case.

Davies made his remarks to M.E.N. Sport who were asked to submit evidence on the player's behalf.

The fine has been suspended until the end of next season and Davies warned about his future behaviour.

Ricardo Gardner could return to action for Bolton.

Gardner has not played since the 4-0 defeat to Sunderland last month due to a leg problem but has been back in training, along with fellow midfielder Mark Davies, who had suffered a knock but was an unused substitute against Chelsea on Tuesday.

Stuart Holden has targeted Bolton’s final two games of the season for his comeback as he continues his recovery from a fractured fibula, while Chris Basham, Gavin McCann, Sean Davis and Joey O’Brien also remain sidelined.

Stoke have a number of injury problems ahead of the game.

Winger Matthew Etherington will undergo a late fitness test having picked up a knock to his knee in training, as will top-scorer Ricardo Fuller, who suffered an ankle injury against Hull and missed last week’s goalless draw at Wolves.

Potters boss Tony Pulis is unlikely to risk either Ryan Shawcross (ankle) or Mamady Sidibe (groin), but James Beattie could feature after two months out with a knee injury.

Stoke City (from): Sorensen, Huth, Abdoulaye Faye, Collins, Higginbotham, Lawrence, Whelan, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Kitson, Fuller, Tuncay, Pugh, Wilkinson, Moult, Amdy Faye, Begovic, Beattie.

Bolton Wanderers (from): Jaaskelainen, Knight, Ricketts, Cahill, Robinson, Muamba, Lee, Gardner, M Davies, Taylor, Wilshere, Cohen, K Davies, Elmander, Klasnic, Weiss, Al Habsi, Samuel, A O’Brien, Steinsson, Riga.
 
Stoke league form: DLWWD

Bolton Wanderers: WLLLL

Key opponent: Delap - Bolton know all about his long throws, but stopping them is another matter

Prediction: Stoke 1 Bolton 1 - it should be a close game between two physical sides

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

Click here for all the latest odds from Betfred.