Injured Louis Saha out of Reebok trip - Everton v Bolton Match Preview

After the win over Blackpool last week that can only be described as epic, Everton's momentum has been checked once more by the news that Jack Rodwell and Louis Saha will miss the game at Bolton with groin and hamstring inujries respectively.

Everton's Andy Lewis confirmed on Twitter that Saha will be out for 10 days to two weeks which could have been worse, but puts his participation in the FA Cup replay with Chelsea in serious doubt. With the window shut and Yakubu and James Vaughan out on loan our striking options are desperately short. Even Shefti Kuqi isn't looking that bad an option now.

With Rodwell out for a month as well Jermaine Beckford and Tim Cahill will probably come in. Not bad replacements I admit but that is it in terms of experienced striking cover, anymore injuries and I think I may be starting up front against Chelsea next week.

Before we get bogged down in Cup fever there is a vital game to be won against Owen Coyle's Bolton. It is a bizarre choice to be the 'Super Sunday' but I am guessing the Coyle v Moyes battle will be the tag-line used by Sky Sports.

Both are young, up-and-coming Scottish bosses used to working wonders on a budget. From what I have seen of him so far If Moyes ever does move on I would love to see Coyle - who sees Moyes achievements at Everton as the blueprint for his success at Bolton - take over the reigns at Goodison.

The Trotters sit in a fairly comfortable looking 8th place, but in this topsy-turvey season we can over-take them with a win on Sunday. But I'm not going to say that, because every time I do say "with a win we can jump x places..." we invariably lose. So I didn't say it, ok?

Match facts

Head-to-head

• Bolton have only won one of their last nine games against Everton, losing six of those matches.

• The first league meeting of these clubs ended in Bolton's first Football League victory - 6-2 at home in September 1888.

• According to Opta statistics, referees have penalised Bolton 357 times this term, more than any Premier League side (at the start of the weekend). Everton, meanwhile, have been fouled more than any other top-flight team (346).

 Bolton

• Wanderers have won only one of their last seven league games, losing five of those matches.

• Daniel Sturridge has scored in his first two Premier League matches for Bolton. The last player to score in his opening three top-flight games for Wanderers was Michael Ricketts in August 2001.

• Bolton are unbeaten in 13 games against teams in the bottom half of the table this term (W5, D8).

Everton

• Louis Saha has scored eight goals in his last six games. The Frenchman netted four goals against Blackpool last weekend to record his first Premier League hat-trick.

• Victory at Manchester City in December is Everton's only away win in their last nine league games.

• David Moyes is one short of collecting 500 points as a Premier League manager. He would be the fourth manager to reach the milestone after Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp.


MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lee Probert

Assistant referees: Ceri Richards & Paul Thompson

Fourth official: Jon Moss