Sunderland-Bolton Wanderers Preview

Aug 13, 2009 - 4:13 PM MICK ROBERTS STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Bolton manager Gary Megson admitted he groaned when the first-day fixtures paired his club with heavy-spending Sunderland at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

Megson had hoped for a gentler re-introduction to another season in the Premier League than a clash with Steve Bruce's expensively-assembled squad.

Megson said: "I thought 'Oh no, not them' when Sunderland cropped up. A new manager, new players and all that expectation.

"But it is going to be a fantastic occasion with all their supporters making it a tremendous atmosphere at our ground. If my players have got anything about them they will respond positively."

How Megson would have loved the sort of cash available to newly-installed Bruce, not least the 17 million pounds that Sunderland paid Tottenham for striker Darren Bent.

Bolton have brought in players for all positions except a striker, which remains a weak spot with only Kevin Davies, now nearing the veteran stage, and Johan Elmander as recognised front-runners.

Megson has challenged Swedish striker Elmander, a 10 million pounds signing from Toulouse, to start justifying his huge outlay.

Elmander managed only five league goals in 30 starts and hard though the Bolton manager has tried, he has yet to identify a possible new striker signing.

Megson said: "We can't afford the big prices but on the other hand we cannot afford not to sign another striker.

"Johan did not get the goals he should have done last season and he has to start chipping in more."

Bolton have signed Lee Chung-Yung, Sean Davis, Paul Robinson, Sam Ricketts and Zat Knight while Gary Cahill has pledged his future by agreeing a three-year contract.

Bruce has been in cheque book heaven since landing in his native north east from Wigan and the mercurial Bent is one of several newcomers designed a to prevent a repetition of last year's struggles.

Latest to join Bruce's revamped Sunderland is his former Wigan player Lee Cattermole for six million pounds this week and immediately set his sights on lifting the club into the Premier League's top ten.

Bruce intends to pair Bent with Kenwyne Jones in what could prove to be one of the league's most exciting partnerships.

Bruce said: "Since I came here I have been backed in the transfer market and I think we have some excellent players in place with competition everywhere."

Meanwhile Megson is preparing to deal with the threat posed by Bent.

Megson said: "I think Darren Bent will prove to be a great signing for Sunderland. He has a fantastic record when he has started games.

"He scored twice for Spurs against us last season and changed the whole course of the game. We know how good he can be."

Bolton have injury doubts about defender Andy O'Brien who sat out Jussi Jaaskelainen's testimonial against Hibernian with a groin injury while experienced midfield player Gavin McCann is struggling with a hamstring problem.