Bolton play their first Premier League game since the exit of Gary Megson when they travel to Sunderland.

Black Cats out to end poor run against struggling Trotters

Bolton play their first Premier League game since the departure of Gary Megson when they travel to tottering Sunderland on Saturday. Steve Bruce's Black Cats triumphed 1-0 at the Reebok Stadium on the opening day of the season and kept up their fine form for some time to raise hopes of a possible European challenge. However, they have not won since beating Arsenal at the end of November, collecting just three points from their past seven matches. Sunderland have now dropped into the bottom half of the table following a 2-2 draw with Blackburn last time out and will be determined to secure victory over the Trotters to avoid getting dragged into a relegation battle. They will have to improve defensively but Bruce will still be without the suspended Michael Turner, who serves the final instalment of a four-match ban. John Mensah is also out with a hamstring injury, while Nyron Nosworthy (knee) and Anton Ferdinand (ankle) are both very doubtful so Paulo da Silva could be the only fit centre-back. Lee Cattermole and Andy Reid (both hamstring) are also sidelined and goalkeeper Craig Gordon is a long-term absentee with a broken arm but Bruce could be able to welcome back Kenwyne Jones, Kieran Richardson and Bolo Zenden.

Bolton news

Bolton are languishing in the relegation zone at present but winning at the Stadium of Light would lift them to within just two points of their opponents and could catapult them several places up the standings. Owen Coyle's appointment as manager is still waiting to be confirmed so assistant boss Chris Evans will once again take charge after guiding his troops to a 4-0 FA Cup victory over Lincoln. Megson had been dismissed following the 2-2 draw with Hull City, while Bolton were denied the chance to boost their league position when Wednesday's clash with Arsenal was postponed due to the bad weather. Bolton are actually unbeaten in five games in all competitions and there are unlikely to be too many changes from the side that defeated Lincoln, although one or players that were rested like Jussi Jaaskelainen will come back in. Joey O'Brien and Sean Davies (both knee) are both out but Bolton have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip north.

Possible starting XIs

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Da Silva, Nosworthy, Richardson, Meyler, Cana, Murphy, Henderson, Bent, Jones. Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, Robinson, Lee, Cohen, Muamba, Taylor, Klasnic, Davies.