Bolton v Middlesbrough preview

Southgate: Must-win game

PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: Bolton 0 Boro 0.
Sky Bet odds: Bolton 11/10, Draw 9/4, Boro 13/5.
One to Watch: Kevin Davies.
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• Bolton Wanderers
• Middlesbrough

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The fight for survival continues when Bolton Wanderers host Middlesbrough at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

Boro are currently in the gravest danger of suffering relegation from the Premier League, with the North East side currently 19th in the table.

Bolton, meanwhile, sit 12th, although just five points separate them from safety and the drop zone.

The Trotters are without a win in their last three league outings, while Boro's woes have centred around their lack of firepower.

Gareth Southgate's men have failed to score in 10 of their last 13 top flight matches, and have mustered only one win in their last 18 league games.

Bolton manager Gary Megson has no fresh concerns ahead of the crunch home encounter.

Unscathed

Megson confirmed that all of his players on international duty in midweek had returned to the Reebok Stadium unscathed, leaving midfield knee injury victims Mark Davies and Joey O'Brien as his only absentees.

Defender Andy O'Brien comes back into contention after being rested from the squad for the 1-1 draw at West Brom in the Trotters' last outing.

Southgate expects to welcome the majority of his international players back following the break, although Adam Johnson is a doubt.

England Under 21 winger Johnson, who scored in a 5-0 win over Norway and also played in the 2-0 defeat to France, has a slight knock and faces a late fitness test.

Up front, Brazilian record signing Afonso Alves could be set for a recall despite the striker's poor return of four league goals this season.

Possible starting XIs

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andy O'Brien, Samuel, Taylor, McCann, Muamba, Gardner, Kevin Davies, Elmander.

Middlesbrough: Jones, McMahon, Pogatetz, Wheater, Huth, Aliadiere, O'Neil, Arca, Downing, Tuncay, Alves.