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By Mark Heys
February 1 2008

Bolton Wanderers will be hoping to put an indifferent January behind them when they make the journey down to Berkshire to take on Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The last month has seen the Wanderers bow out of the FA Cup, lose their top goalscorer to transfer and pick up just one win from five games but Gary Megson is hoping February will yield a change of luck for his side.

Bolton have not won away from home in the league since last April and have not picked up maximum points at Reading since January 1993 when Andy Walker and David Lee helped the Trotters to a 2-1 win at the old Elm Park ground.

With both sides anxiously looking over their shoulder at the relegation situation something has to give and the Wanderers hope it will be they who are all smiles come 5pm tommorow.

Striker El-Hadji Diouf is likely to be rushed back to action for Bolton after Senegal where eliminated from the African Cup of Nations and the return of the former Liverpool man couldn't have come at a better time.

The Wanderers have struggled to find any spark since the departure of Anelka and Diouf's return should give the side a big boost going into an important run of fixtures.

On the injury front, Heidar Helguson made his return to first team action as a substitute during the midweek draw with Fulham and Ricardo Vaz-Te was on the scoresheet in their reserve defeat to Manchester United.

New boys Gary Cahill and Grzegorz Rasiak should play some part in the game after completing midweek moves from Aston Villa and Southampton respectively.

Reading's only long term injury casualty for the game is that of ex-Bolton winger Glen Little who has a achillies injury. The Royals also have doubts over the fitness of veteran centre half Michael Duberry (knee) and winger John Oster (ankle), with the latter only having completed one reserve game since picking up the injury.

Icelandic star Brynjar Gunnarsson could be in contention after receiving treatment on a recent groin problem as could defender Ibrahima Sonko who like countryman Diouf is back from international duty.

Czech international midfielder Marek Matejovsky is pushing for his first full appearance in Reading colours since making the move from Mlada Bolselav last month.

LAST TIME WE MET:

25/08/2007 BOLTON WANDERERS 3 (Speed, Anelka, Braaten) READING 0

BOLTON: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Meite, Gerald Cid, Jlloyd Samuel, Kevin Nolan, Gavin McCann, Gary Speed, Mikel Alonso (Daniel Braaten), El-Hadji Diouf, Nicolas Anelka

SUBS NOT USED: Christian Wilhelmsson, Kevin Davies, Andy O'Brien, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

READING: Marcus Hahnemann, Ulises De La Cruz (John Halls), Ivar Ingimarsson, Andre Bikey, Scott Golbourne (Bobby Convey), Emerse Fae (Leroy Lita), James Harper, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Stephen Hunt, Shane Long, Kevin Doyle

SUBS NOT USED: Khalifa Cisse, Adam Federici (GK)

PLAYED FOR BOTH:

Brian Bromley, Dean Crombie, Les Ferdinand, Robert Fleck, John Hulme, Harry Kinsell, Glen Little, John Salako, Dave Sutton, Bill Wrigglesworth

DID YOU KNOW?

Of the Bolton players who scored in the last fixture between these two sides, only Daniel Braaten remains at the club after Anelka and Gary Speed completed respective moves to Chelsea and Sheffield United.

Les Ferdinand and John Salako played for both teams as well as England with the duo being part of Graham Taylor's ill fated World Cup qualifying campaign in 1993.