Team news

Fulham preview
Fulham pair Danny Murphy and Andy Johnson returned to training this week but are not expected to make the starting XI for the Barclays Premier League clash against Bolton at Craven Cottage.

Johnson (groin) and Murphy (knee) have both been out for more than a month and need match fitness but could be named among the substitutes at best.

Striker Diomansy Kamara (knee) is out of the match.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has not been surprised by Kevin Davies' resurgence at Bolton after buying the striker 11 years ago but seeing him flop at Blackburn.

Davies joined Rovers in 1998 but Hodgson was sacked early in the season and his #7.5million striker failed to establish himself at Ewood Park.

Following a spell at Southampton, Sam Allardyce took Davies to the Reebok Stadium five years ago and the 32-year-old has not looked back since, with his physical presence in attack even seeing him tipped for England honours.

This weekend he faces his former manager when Bolton travel to Craven Cottage.

"It's no surprise to see his form over the last seasons," Hodgson said. "It's quite strange because the summer we signed him we had a good year and got into Europe.

"People were speaking very well of Blackburn and thinking we could have another good season, and Kevin Davies was hailed as an excellent signing by virtually everybody.

"Of course the major problem was losing Chris Sutton and Kevin Gallagher in the first couple of weeks of the season. We had to throw Kevin in and when it didn't work out for him things got worse and worse.

"He certainly put that behind him and now he's a highly respected front player in the country and a player most teams would love to have.

"I'm pleased with that because I'm pleased to see I'm not totally incompetent when looking at forward players. I'm pleased he succeeded even if he didn't help me at the time."

The centre-back likely to mark Davies is Brede Hangeland, who has signed a new contract with Fulham until 2013, ending speculation linking him with the likes of Arsenal.

"I hope that this will now end months of speculation about my future," he said.

"I have always maintained that I am happy at Fulham and committed to doing everything I can to ensure the on-going success of the team."

Bolton preview
Midfielder Tamir Cohen could return to the Bolton squad following a groin injury.

Cohen was forced to sit out the derby defeat by Blackburn, which kept the side in the relegation zone, because of the problem.

Ricardo Gardner suffered a calf strain in that match and Jlloyd Samuel took a knock but both are expected to be available at Craven Cottage.

Bolton manager Gary Megson wants his attacking players to take their training ground expertise into match-day and steer the club out of trouble.

Megson has seen his team tumble down the table after collecting only three points out of a possible 15 and they have not won at the league at Craven Cottage in 17 years.

Not only are Bolton shipping goals, they are also failing to hurt teams and that situation concerns Megson with a trip to struggling Wolves to follow next week.

He said: "It is like a golfer...you can knock six foot putts in until the cows come home in practice. It is entirely different doing it to win the Open.

"It is the same in football. In training the finishing is invariably good.

"But it is entirely different in a game when there are thousands of people about and that real intensity that surrounds Premier League football.

"Does it come down to mental strength? That's a big part of football, as it is in other sports." Megson expects a positive attitude from his team despite the derby defeat by Blackburn at the weekend.

He added: "The only thing that counts is results and picking up points. We are in the bottom three, so we either put the white flag up or roll our sleeves up.

Fulham vs Bolton

Last modified 18:17 29/11/09

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Roy Hodgson fears he might have to dig his boots out after Fulham were plunged into a fresh injury crisis.

The Cottagers boss revealed that striker Andy Johnson underwent surgery on his troublesome groin injury on Saturday, meaning the livewire striker faces several more weeks on the sidelines.

And with suspension, unavailability and injuries to other key players to contend with ahead of Thursday night's must-win Europa League clash with CSKA Sofia, Hodgson faces a struggle just to name a starting 11 let alone an 18-man squad.

Hodgson, who is currently in discussion over a new contract at Craven Cottage, said:  "He (Andy Johnson) had an operation on Saturday in Leicester.

"It's pretty much exploratory because he has tried so hard to get back. There are days when we thought he's cracked it and in manageable pain and then the next day when he comes out to train he hasn't got manageable pain and he is forced to go in again.

"That prompted us after the numerable scans he's had, even alternative medicine in places like Paris, trying to find out exactly what the problem is.

"It has now been decided that they will operate and go into the area he is suffering the pain in the hope they will find out exactly what is doing it and put it right."

Fulham will also be without the injured Diomansy Kamara, suspended trio of Eric Nevland, Paul Knochesky and Jonathan Greening and ineligible Eddie Johnson for their Europa League match, while Bobby Zamora and Danny Murphy remain doubt.

"I'll get my boots out," said Hodgson. "We'll have a go Thursday night and if do get a chance against Basel after that we'll try and take it. If we don't not many of us will be crying our eyes out."

With so many injuries to contend with the last thing any team needs is a full-bloodied encounter with Bolton Wanderers, but that's exactly what Fulham faced on Saturday.

Trotters boss Gary Megson is under increasing pressure at the Reebok Stadium and he was forced to deny rumours of a dressing room split.

However, his players' commitment couldn't be faulted. Six bookings suggested they are willing to fight for their manager, even if it does bring a £25,000 club fine.

Bolton, who faced the Cottagers on the back of four straight defeats, made a positive start and were rewarded with the opener 10 minutes before half-time when striker Ivan Klasnic neatly swiveled and fired home after Fulham failed to clear Gary Cahill's long throw.

But Fulham battered their visitors in the second half and deservedly claimed a share of the spoils on 75 minutes when the impressive Damien Duff got the better of JLloyd Samuel and fired home with his weaker right foot.

Duff was one of Ireland's crestfallen heroes on that infamous night in Paris, but his spirits would have been lifted by his display against Bolton.

Hodgson hailed his winger who has suffered his own injury problems over the years. "All I can say is he's a better player than the one I worked with at Blackburn 12 years ago," Hodgson said.

"I thought he was an outstanding talent and a very good player then, but he's a better player today.

"The perception that he lost his way or the injuries had taken their toll.

"If you asked me who the biggest influences were in the dressing room I couldnít tell you. I don't go into the dressing room too often - the music deafens me. It makes me realise how old I am.

"He is an influence because he's a popular figure. Sadly when he gets his Irish music on in the dressing room it clears it pretty damn quick."

Fulham: Schwarzer 6, Pantsil 6 (S Davies 68mins 6), Konchesky 6, Hangeland 7, Hughes 6, Gera 6 (Dikgacoi 81mins 5), Greening 6, Baird 7, Duff 8, Dempsey 6, Nevland 6. Subs not used: Stockdale, Ki-Hyeon, Riise, E Johnson, Smalling.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen 7, Steinsson 7, Samuel 6, Cahill 7, OíBrien 7, Taylor 5, Gardner 6, McCann 6, Cohen 5 (M Davies 78mins 6), K Davies 6, Klasnic 6 (Muamba 60mins 6). Sub snot used: Habsi, Elmander, Knight,  Ricketts, Lee.