'Plenty Of Attacking Options'

We get inside information on Bolton as they prepare to visit Goodison.

This Premier League campaign is close and you'd be hard pushed to find someone who hasn't realised.

Each week seems to bring a new statistic concerning a club and how high they could climb or how low they could fall.

Well, here's this week's maths. Saturday's visitors Bolton - a team truly in the thick of this endless yo-yoing - sit 12th with 27 points from 24 games. Only four points off the relegation zone, they're also just two points from ninth.

Currently on a run of good form, they will have to come to terms with the loss of key man Kevin Nolan to Newcastle. But, in have come three new faces and the early indications suggest good business.

To talk about all this and Saturday's clash at Goodison evertonfc.com spoke to Marc Iles, chief football writer of the Bolton Evening News.

Tickets are still available for the Saturday's clash with Bolton. To secure your seat to watch the Blues take on Gary Megson's side, click here.

How do you assess Bolton’s form since they last faced Everton?

The defeat against Everton signalled a real upturn in form - we won four out of the next five and flew up the league. The fixture list wasn't exactly kind over Christmas, putting Wanderers up against Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Arsenal within about six weeks, so results tailed off predictably after that. Post-Christmas has been a bit of a mixed bag, but the thrilling win against Spurs last week was very encouraging.

Who has been the key man this season?

If I had to pinpoint one person, it would be Gary Cahill. He arrived last January with a pretty big price tag for a player who had not been a regular for Aston Villa but, and credit here to Gary Megson, he has grown into a top class centre half. I wouldn't be surprised if England don't come calling for him soon.

How will Gary Megson approach the game tactically?

Bolton usually play with five in midfield and one man up front. Ariza Makukula, the striker on loan from Benfica, has been the target man in recent weeks. There were plenty of attacking options in the midfield last week - Matty Taylor, Ricardo Gardner, Mark Davies and Kevin Davies are no stranger to the opposition penalty box.

Which Everton player will Bolton fear most?

The way Tim Cahill has been playing recently, I'd be surprised if Wanderers do not pay close attention to him. Gary Megson was very complimentary about him this week.

Is it fair to say Bolton missed out on their top targets in January?

I think Gary will be happy with the business he did manage - Sebastien Puygrenier, Mark Davies and Ariza Makukula have gone straight into the team. But there hasn't really been a replacement signed for Kevin Nolan, who left for Newcastle. Bids were made for a few good players - Pedro Mendes, Sean Davis, Miguel Veloso - but eventually time ran out. Overall though, his glass is half full!

How big a loss will Nolan be?

Nobby was a big influence in the dressing room and a great bloke. But I think with a bit of hindsight, the move will turn out to be good for both the player and the club. Maybe things got a little too comfortable? I'd like to see Kev back in the goals at Newcastle - except at the Reebok of course - and maybe then people can start to talk about him as a potental England player again. From Bolton's point of view, they got £4million and have been able to bring Mark Davies into the side - he looks a very exciting prospect.

Any injury news?

Johan Elmander is out with a hamstring injury and Gavin McCann will miss the game with a broken toe. Nicky Hunt and Tamir Cohen returned to training this week but the game will probably come too quick for them.

Tickets are still available for the Saturday's clash with Bolton. To secure your seat to watch the Blues take on Gary Megson's side, click here.