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Bolton Wanderers

Bolton v Fulham: Preview

SAM Allardyce believes Bolton face one of their biggest weeks in a long time, starting with tomorrow's home game against Fulham.

It's the first of three games in six days that could keep Wanderers challenging for the Champions League next season and an FA Cup final appearance at Wembley in May.

After Fulham, Wanderers entertain Arsenal on Wednesday in a fourth-round replay, followed by a possible last-16 tie against Blackburn.

"In that time we could be heading for at least fifth in the Premiership, be through to the sixth round of the cup and looking like we could go all the way," said the Bolton boss.

"And a good home win with a good performance against Fulham is long overdue.

"We've also got a new pitch to play on. It won't be 100 per cent to start with. But it will get better and better the longer the season goes on. And we hope our results and performances will get better with it."

Ivan Campo and Abdoulaye Faye are doubtful with colds, but Allardyce expects them to recover fully.

He said: "I'm sure they'll come bouncing in today ready to play. At this stage of the season, no one wants to miss out. They can see the light at the end of tunnel after a long hard Christmas and New Year, when we didn't come through very well.

"We want to push on now by getting some good results in both competitions were still involved in."

David Thompson is expected to feature in the squad for the first time since signing from Portsmouth, although his Scouse accent has caused some light-hearted confusion on the training ground.

Allardyce said: "He's had a good hard week's training and lots of Premiership experience. He looks very fit - the only problem I have is that I don't know whether it's him or Sammy Lee talking!"

Bolton have beaten off competition from AC Milan and Juventus to sign Macedonia-born midfielder Blerim Dzemaili. The 20-year-old, currently with FC Zurich, will join Wanderers in July when he becomes a free agent.

Allardyce, continuing his policy of bringing down the average age of his squad, has also captured 23-year-old centre-half Gerald Cid from Bordeaux.

Dzemaili, a member of Switzerland's 2006 World Cup squad, has signed a two-year deal and Cid has been handed a four-year contract.

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