NEDUM Onuoha is set to start alongside Sylvain Distin in central defence as Manchester City look to leapfrog Bolton by beating the Trotters at the Reebok Stadium.
Richard Dunne (knee) is a major doubt and with David Sommeil suspended and Danny Mills still missing with a broken shin, Onuoha is the obvious replacement.
Claudio Reyna (broken ankle) is missing and while Ben Thatcher returns from a one-match ban, so manager Stuart Pearce is likely to stick closely to the side that beat Manchester United last weekend.
Former Real Madrid star Ivan Campo looks likely to return to the Bolton team, with Hidetoshi Nakata is suspended.
Veteran midfielder Gary Speed seems certain to be sidelined for a third game because of a nagging knee ligament injury, while Henrik Pedersen remains absent with an Achilles problem.
Jay-Jay Okocha, El-Hadji Diouf, Abdoulaye Faye and Radhi Jaidi are all away on duty in the African Nations Cup.
Bolton Wanderers (from): Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, Ben Haim, N’Gotty, Gardner, Giannakopoulos, Campo, Fadiga, Nolan, Davies, Borgetti, Hunt, Vaz Te, Walker, Jansen, Fojut.
Manchester City (from): James, De Vlieger, Sun, Dunne, Distin, Onuoha, Jordan, Thatcher, Sinclair, Croft, Barton, Ireland, Musampa, Riera, Cole, Vassell, Fowler, Wright-Phillips.
Last season: Bolton 0 City 1
Key opponent: Kevin Nolan - Powerhouse midfielder who can score goals
Prediction: Bolton 1 City 1
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
You can 15/2 on City winning 1-0 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.
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This is a six pointer kind of game
it's important to both clubs.
Bolton have some key players missing, but will put up a fight.
CITY need to play like they did against United and it will be 2-0 for CITY.
Come on you BLUES!
We owe them a 0-1 defeat from earlier in the season , when we were robbed!
City to win 0-1, Vassell.
City haven't got a chance in this game. They can't play well for two games on the trot and will end up losing this one.
Make no mistake - this is a massive game for us. It's a six pointer that will re-ignite our European campaign if we win. Bolton are mising some of their key African players plus a few others that are injured. They are not an easy team to beat but we should be able to get the measure of them this time. Win this one and we're back on track for a UEFA place. Come on you Blues.
Which CITY will turn up? The lazy and incompetent one that was painful to watch against Spurs, or the hard working and highly tuned machine that turned United over? It had better be the latter - no excuses CITY.
Andy, Cumbria - Is that a rag I see crawling out of the woodwork?? Nice to have you back - we missed you and the funny comments you lot post!! ha ha!
1-0 to City. Barton to score, and Big Sam to moan about the referee......It's in the stars.
Current Betfair odds for City 1-0 are 19/2.
Jordan to make way for Thatcher? I sincerely hope not. Could Stuart Pearce explain what Thatcher has done to merit an instant recall to the starting XI?
We should be beating a weakened Bolton if we've any sort of European aspirations. Not sure if this is a game for Riera to play in. The derby is one thing but playing against what is effectivly a Rugby team on the super-narrow Reebok pitch probably won't suit an out and out wide player. Maybe Sibierski in the midfield for a bit of height. It's a bit harsh on Ireland though. Croft (portly lad that he is) may be a useful addition to the bench for this one - he did well on his debut last year against them. My XI: James, Sun, Onouha, Distin, Jordan, Sinclair, Barton, Ireland, Musampa, Fowler, Vassell. Subs: deVliger, Thatcher, Croft, Sibierski, Cole.
Chas - spot on mate!
andy cumbria - a red probably, are you saying that united can string wins together!!!! ha ha 3-1 wasn't it. I can see us turning it on again, coley is ready for scoring and robbie even as a sub may bag a couple. I reckon 4-0 to us
This is our game. If we play half as well as we did for the first match with them this season, we should cruise to victory. 2-1 to City with goals from Barton and Musampa (to start at center mid), Bolton to get a late consolation on some long-ball BS.
I actually thought that the Bolton game was the best we played this season so far including last week. We ripped them to shreds time and time again. If we had won that as we should have done then we would be sixth now. It would be poetic justice if we did it after tomorrows game.
2-1 citeh. Vass in the first and Barton (pen) after Big Sam's heavies slice down Cole late in the second. Davies reply ensuring nervy finish...celebratory pint of Cumberland ale on weekend get-a-away in Lakes...
musampa to start definetly! left or centre 3-1 golas from barton,musampa,and fowler
i think that sibs should be given a start for height and physical presence, as strange as that might sound, tactically i think it might be suicide to play Ireland despite his awesome performance against the reds
Wrong guys - Bolton fan. Just saying it how I see it!
BOLTON 1 MANCHESTER CITY 2 (COLE,FOWLER).
james,sun, onouha, distin,jordan, sinclair, barton, musampa, riera, fowler, vassell. subs: thatcher, cole, ireland, croft, sibieski
Bring back George Heslop for this one!
It is pointless trying to predict what City are going to do at the moment. It is back to the good old days when we did not have a clue how City were going to play. Bring on Bolton!
Apologies Andy - it was the Cumbria bit that convinced me you were a rag!
If Fowler does not start, I will be suspicious that SP is a bit afraid of Andy Cole. Why can't he put Cole on the bench and give Fowler a run out? Cole hasn't scored in I can't remember how many games...Fowler has 4 in 2. Nuff said.
Fantastic result against the dread reds and all that,but this is the type of game we really need to get something out of. Bolton play the type of football Eddie Waring(RIP) liked.Yes ugly.There I've said it,it is ugly and yes it is effective.Anything less than 100% from any of our team and they'll turn us over.1-1.CTID