BOLTON boss Sam Allardyce reckons Charlton manager Alan Curbishley has taken a major gamble in signing Francis Jeffers.

Curbishley this week continued an unprecedented summer spending spree at The Valley with the '3million capture of Danny Murphy from Liverpool and '2.6million splashed out to land Jeffers from Arsenal.

The latter could prove to be money well spent if Curbishley can coax from Jeffers the form which led to the Gunners paying Everton '8million three years ago when the striker was just 20.

At that time the future looked rosy for Jeffers and he appeared to be a star on the rise, but since then his career has alarmingly stalled.

In the following two seasons at Highbury, Jeffers scored just eight goals in 39 games, starting a mere 13 times as he struggled to force his way into the plans of Arsene Wenger.

In a bid to rekindle former glories, last season Jeffers returned to Goodison Park for a season-long loan but managed just two goals in 22 appearances.

Now Curbishley has gambled on resurrecting Jeffers' fortunes with the 23-year-old poised to make his Charlton debut against Allardyce's Bolton at the Reebok Stadium tomorrow.

Money

Allardyce, who can only dream of spending the kind of money Curbishley has been handed this closed season, said: 'You would like to have the money to afford players like Murphy and Jeffers.'

But he then sounded a note of caution, adding: 'Franny Jeffers is more of a gamble than Danny Murphy because his career has slipped by the wayside.

'It didn't happen for him at Arsenal and it didn't happen for him at Everton last season and he is more the kind of player we would likely bring in and resurrect than Alan.

'But he has a massive opportunity with Alan to again become a major player and goalscorer like he was at Everton before he left to join Arsenal.

'As for Danny, he is a top Premiership player and at 27 is a fantastic buy at '2.5million.'
Like Curbishley has done with Jeffers, Allardyce has taken a similar gamble on Michael Bridges, taking on the striker this summer after his contract expired at Leeds.

The years of injury hell Bridges suffered at Elland Road would appear to be behind him, and if he manages to stay injury free with Bolton, Allardyce is hoping the 26-year-old can reproduce the form that saw him score 21 goals in his debut Leeds campaign in 1999/2000.

'Like Franny, Michael has to resurrect his career,' added Allardyce on Bridges, whose last top-flight goal was in May 2000.

'We can but try to make him the player he was, but it's the early stages.

'The good thing about Michael is he has not missed a day's training and there's been no problems injury-wise for 14 to 16 months.

Niggles

'He has told me he only had little niggles here and there last season. There was nothing major.

'So it's a case of building up his strength, his confidence and belief that he can be the footballer he used to be, which can take longer than people give credit for.'

Defender Florent Laville is Allardyce's only absentee for tomorrow's Premiership opener.

Laville made just five appearances at the start of what proved to be an injury-hit campaign for the Frenchman last season, and he is again on the sidelines with a knee problem for the visit of the Addicks.

Bolton have suffered heavy defeats in the opening match of their previous two campaigns.

Team (from): Poole, Barness, Santos, Nolan, N'Gotty, Speed, Giannakopoulos, Bridges, Pedersen, Okocha, Gardner, Davies, Jaidi, Campo, Hierro, Hunt, Jaaskelainen, Ferdinand, Haim Tal, Vaz Te.

Last season: Bolton 0 Charlton 0

Key opponent: Danny Murphy - Charlton will expect great things from the former Liverpool man.

Prediction: Bolton 1 Charlton 1

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