Injury woe for Trotters duo

Elmander and Taylor suffer setbacks

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 28th August 2008

Gary Megson Bolton Wanderers manager

Megson: Work in progress

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Bolton boss Gary Megson is set to be without Johan Elmander and Matthew Taylor for the immediate future.

The duo have picked up injuries which look set to sideline them for some time, news which has come as a major blow to their manager.

Sweden international Elmander had made a bright start to life in England following his summer switch, while Taylor provides a creative influence on the left flank.

"Johan's torn his hamstring and Matt has broke his toe and they will be out for a while," Megson told Sky Sports News.

"It's disappointing for Johan, and from our own point of view it's a big blow, because he's set off remarkably well. But it happens and we get on and deal with it."

Improving

Megson then denied that the double setback will see him step-up his attempts to get new faces on board before the closure of the transfer window.

"There is no more emphasis," he added.

"We are still trying to bring players in and that work will go right up to the wire as we try and improve the squad."

Bolton were reported to have knocked back an offer from Blackburn on Tuesday for keeper Ali Al-Habsi.

However, Megson revealed that no bid was ever tabled and Rovers were simply making an enquiry.

"There wasn't an offer," he said.

"Phil (Gartside, club chairman) took a phone call from someone at Blackburn and said that we have no interest in selling him - so we move on."

Squad strength

The Trotters were humbled 2-1 by Northampton in the second round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday, and Megson admits that certain members of his squad let themselves down in the Reebok Stadium contest.

"The work in progress is going to take a while," he said.

"Nine or ten months ago, when I came in, we were bottom of the table with five points from ten games and that tells its own story.

"The team wasn't strong enough at that time and we're still dealing with some effects of that.

"Some of the players who got an opportunity in that game were a bit disappointing.

"The team we put out was viewed as a weak team, but the players who were out there didn't think it was weak at all, they think they should be in there, so it was a wake-up call."