CITY midfielder Joey Barton is available after suspension for the Barclays Premiership match against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.
Barton's return is a boost for manager Stuart Pearce as Hatem Trabelsi is struggling with a hamstring problem.
Paul Dickov (toe), Dietmar Hamann (back) and Danny Mills (foot) remain sidelined.
City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver is determined to avoid a repeat of the game at Eastlands when City fell behind early and lost 2-0.
He said: "You cannot give most teams a two-goal start - let alone Bolton, who got in front early and then, to all intents and purposes, shut up shop, so we couldn't get back.
"We have tone well at the Reebok in recent times so we go there looking for three points. They are a good, strong side who are not easy to play against, but also have some decent footballers."
Meanwhile, Ivan Campo returns for Bolton after suspension.
Campo missed last weekendés 4-0 FA Cup win at Doncaster and should reclaim a midfield spot, with boss Sam Allardyce set to revert to his preferred starting line-up.
Kevin Nolan faces a late fitness check on a rib injury, while fellow midfielder Quinton Fortune picked up a knock in training and is a doubt. Henrik Pedersen remains sidelined with a calf problem and Abdoulaye Faye is banned.
Bolton Wanderers (from): Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Meite, Ben Haim, Campo, Giannakopoulos, Speed, Nolan, Diouf, Anelka, Davies, Walker, Gardner, Vaz Te, Tal, Teymourian, Fortune, Fojut, Smith.
Manchester City (from): Weaver, Onuoha, Sun Jihai, Distin, Dunne, Jordan, Miller, Richards, Sinclair, Dabo, Barton, Ireland, Trabelsi, Beasley, Vassell, Corradi, Samaras, Isaksson.
Last season: Bolton 2 City 0
Key opponent: Nicolas Anelka - French striker was at his clinical best at Eastlands and will be keen to repeat his goalscoring feats
Prediction: Bolton 1 City 0 - Although City have improved away, Bolton's strength and scoring power makes them favourites for the three points
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
For all the latest odds with Betfred, click here.
Comments
Login or Register to comment
OK, so, Donachie at left back, no hang on, he's gone, Jordan at left back, no hang on he's asleep, Thatcher at left back, nope, hang on he's gone too....AH, Vassell at left back, and then we need a left winger to replace Vassell, so lets put Dunne there and then we need a centre half. M.Mills is a centre half, so lets put Richards centre half and put Mills at right back, then we can put Onouha, who played right back a lot when he was at school, in midfield. Oh hang on, Barton's back, so he'll have to go in midfield. So where does Onouha go? Oh yeh, he can go up front with Dickov. What's that? Dickov's out injured. Oh dear. Who else is rubbish up front? SORTED ! Thats Corradi and Onouha up front. Now, have we got 11 or have I missed the goalie out again?
SP must stop Campo(who is available again)from recieving the ball.He may not be the quickiest of players but possesses a range of passes that destroy most opposition teams.The same can be said for Gary Speed,stop these 2 playing and you stop Boltons suply to the front men.
i think we will get a draw here , i really can't stand bolton and their manager Sam the grocer
City to win 2-0.goals from the Greek and Barton.CTID
If we can get a draw out of this one and keep the run going I'll
be happy.Bolton have got the kind of resilience we can only dream about which is why they are where they are,and we are where we are.The blood boils to see Anelka in that horrible white kit,for all his sulking the guy is undoubtedly a class above.Will we ever see the like again?A City striker getting into double figures,and then you look at our current forwards,makes you want to weep.
Unrelated,but I've just read the Guardian piece on the MCFC website.Can Reyna really be on 37,500 a week,no wonder we're bust.He wasn't worth half that at Sunderland in his pomp.
Utter madness.The rest of the piece doesn't make comfortable
reading either.
i've been on The Sloth's case for years and had to listen to the happy clapper pro-reyna muppets banging on about how good he is. Delighted he is finally on his way out to that hotbed of footballing passion that is MLS, where only the greatest of the greats in the prime of their footballing careers will go and play for peanuts. What's that? Beckham you say? oh.... You wonder why the Bartons and Distins have kicked off at City to demand better money. Get Stevie Ireland in there and give the lad a decent run - should have been well established long since. Wardle OUT.
TRANSFER WINDOW IS GOING WELL AGAIN. PAPER THIN SQUAD, SO LETS GET PLAYERS OUT AND BRING IN A 20 YEAR OLD UNKNOWN EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THEM IN ABUNDANCE.
I LIKE THE ONE ABOUT BECKHAM, EVEN IF WE GOT HIM ON A FREE HIS WAGES WOULD HAVE BEEN EQUVELENT TO A £30 MILLION SIGNING, AND WE HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY DONT WE????
MUPPETTS
I think we've got a reasonable chance. As long as they get the goalie sent off, concede a penalty and score at least one own goal!
"In season one there was loads of knackered Reyna, In season two there was loads of knackered Reyna,
In season three there was loads of knackered Reyna,
Heeeeey! KNACKERED REYNA!
AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!
I think you know the tune.
Just Seen that Big Sam has been named manager of the month, now that is the ultimate Kiss of death!! Come on City, Bolton looked very ordinary agianst Liverpool, you know you can do it. 1-0 barton pinches a goal in the last 5 minutes (well I can hope)!!
Yeah I agree with you. Bolton have too much quality in their squad for us. I'd go for 2-0 to Bolton, with us creating nothing all game.
Who are Bolton Wanders please. I live in Spain and nobody has heard of Bolton.
I have been supporting City for the past 15 years...whatever the situation is at the moment, it is the very first time I have seen the blues get a bit close to being stable. Sure, we can do well, but so can 3/4 of all teams in Prem. Give Wardle and Pearce a break, they have have helped turn a club which was a laughing stock yo-yo up to a few years ago into a club that is (righty) complaining of being in 10th place after Xmas. Get behing them as that is the only way we can help.
A draw will do, but I really hope we can get back at Bolton by taking 3 points to COMS. Realistic prediction: 1-1.
Open your eyes: Most sensible post i have read in a while mate! However, thats the beauty of supporting city, now that we are 10th everybody is secretly yearning for top 6. Personally i would be happy with 15 or 16th until we are able to balance the books and bring in fresh investment (although i say that carefully!)
Mark Lawrenson is at it again predicting a Bolton victory of 2-0 he also reckons they'll have too much pace,power and nous!!!! in laymans terms more practicle intelligence WHAT A PRAT! perhaps that was what he had missing when KK sacked from defensive coach at Newcastle.Maybe as well this explains his anti City syndrome? come on City make him eat his words and beat the small club from Horwich!!!!
Should hand Didi the armband for the day as a gesture in what is bound to be an emotional return to his old club!
I predict.......PAIN!!
Ted Knott, you must see where Lawrenson is coming from? I'll take a draw here gladly, that says it all, doesn't it?