BOLTON chairman Phil Gartside today pledged that the cash-strapped Reebok club will find a way of funding a replacement for injured central defender Florent Laville.

Manager Sam Allardyce has rushed in a Yugoslav and a Croat for trials after failing in an audacious bid to tempt former Icelandic star Gudni Bergsson out of retirement.

Laville will be out for six months with a cruciate ligament injury and the closure of the transfer window last month means that Allardyce can only sign an out of contract player - if he can find one and if Bolton can afford him.

Gartside said: "There is scope to bring in another player. We'll find a way because we've done it before.

"When we signed Youri Djorkaeff on loan everyone said we'd no chance of keeping him and we were saying we'd no money.

Scouting

"But, by the end of that summer, we'd got Ivan Campo on loan plus Jay-Jay Okocha and Djorkaeff on two year contracts.

"So there's always scope. We've never let anybody down, even though sometimes we've had to go to the last minute to complete deals.

"I knew as soon as I saw Laville was injured that Sam would be looking for a replacement. He never stops looking and throwing people at us."

Bolton's options are extremely limited but two unnamed players, who are unattached despite having international status, have been flown in for trials.

Allardyce added: "They've only just arrived so it's too early to tell but they are able to sign for us if we want them.

"We'll see how they go for a week and then make a judgement based on their CVs and how they do while they are here.

"They probably won't be fit enough because they haven't been playing games. It's difficult for them and us because they will want to prove themselves when they aren't in their best condition."

Plugging a gap

Allardyce added: "It has been quite astonishing to find two players with international pedigree who are without a club.

"That's down to Jack Chapman, our chief scout. The old-timer has done it again by getting on the phone and making his calls."

Allardyce, meanwhile, has to plug the Laville gap at Newcastle tomorrow against the marauding Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy.

Bruno N'Gotty looks certain to partner Emerson Thome in central defence. Right back Nicky Hunt is struggling with a hamstring injury and Anthony Barness, who has just recovered from a similar problem, will come into the reckoning.

Simon Charlton, who proved his fitness with a 45-minute run at centre half in Monday's reserve game with Villa, could also be involved.

Allardyce is to ask Burnley if Glen Little's loan can be extended to a second month. The forward is still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in training and has not yet had chance to show what he can do.

Last season: Newcastle 1 Bolton 0

Prediction: Newcastle 2 Bolton 0

BETFRED:

Win-Draw-Win: Newcastle 4/7 Draw 12/5 Bolton 5/1

Correct Score
Bolton To Win
1-0 12/1
2-0 33/1
2-1 20/1
3-0 100/1
3-1 50/1
3-2 40/1
4-0 150/1
4-1 150/1

1st/Last Goalscorer In Match
Djorkaeff 7/1
Jardel 8/1
Pederson 8/1
Davies 9/1
Okocha 11/1
Giannakopoulos 14/1
Nolan 18/1
Frandsen 22/1
Campo 25/1
Gardner 28/1
N'Gotty 40/1

Jardel & Bolton 1-0 70/1
Okocha & Bolton 2-0 225/1
Nolan & Bolton 2-1 275/1

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