Premier League Preview: Bolton - Manchester City

Kick-off: Saturday, December 12, 2009. 15:00 GMT
City of Manchester Stadium, Eastlands, Manchester

The news that Michael Johnson could be sidelined for the rest of the season will overshadow Manchester City's preparations for a game that may do more to test their league credentials than last week's encounter with Chelsea.

It is all well and good firing yourselves up for the visit of the league leaders, and defeating them in front of your own support.

However, if that was how a league was won then Liverpool would have walked away with the Premier League trophy last season.

For Manchester City, it is all about consistency, and a trip to Bolton is exactly the type of fixture in which the also-rans drop points.

Mark Hughes' side have already dropped far too many important points through their inability to turn draws into wins. Another one here, and they may still be boasting about how many games unbeaten they have managed, but it will mean nothing when the prizes are being handed out.

More importantly perhaps to Mark Hughes, it will provide little evidence he is the man to spend the endless drop of money the owners have given the manager.

FORM GUIDE

Bolton

Dec 05: Wolves 2-1 Bolton
Nov 28: Fulham 1-1 Bolton
Nov 22: Bolton 0-2 Blackburn
Nov 07: Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton
Oct 31: Bolton 0-4 Chelsea

Manchester City

Dec 05: Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea
Dec 02: Manchester City 3-0 Arsenal
Nov 28: Manchester City 1-1 Hull City
Nov 21: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
Nov 07: Manchester City 3-3 Burnley

TEAM NEWS

Bolton

Captain Kevin Davies returns from suspension. In his press conference, manager Gary Megson revealed only long-term absentees Joey O'Brien and Sean Davis will be missing.

Last Starting XI(v Wolves): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, A O'Brien, Samuel, Lee, Gardner, McCann, Cohen, Taylor, Klasnic.

Manchester City

With Wayne Bridge injured, Sylvinho could make his first Premier League start.

Craig Bellamy returns after missing last weekend's win over Chelsea with a virus, and Stephen Ireland has recovered from a knee injury.

Midfielder Michael Johnson has been ruled out for the season after sustaining knee ligament damage in training.

Last Starting XI(v Chelsea): Given; Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, De Jong, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Robinho, Adebayor.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Bolton - Gary Cahill

It may not be going great for Bolton so far this season, but one man Gary Megson has been able to rely on has been Cahill. He has made more defensive blocks than any other defender in the Premier League this season, and with Manchester City's firepower, he'll have an important part to play on Saturday.

Manchester City - Craig Bellamy

Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez are both leading the goalscoring charts at City with six each, and with Bellamy missing the win over Chelsea last week, the onus is now on the Welshman to stand up and be counted.

PREDICTION

Even though Mark Hughes' side have a tendency to drop points, they are at least scoring goals for fun at the moment. It is hard to see Bolton keeping a clean sheet, or going like for like in the goals for chart either.

Bolton 0-3 Manchester City

Andrew Southwick, Goal.com

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