Allarydce fears mid-season slump
Aside from the four players he is about to lose on African Nations Cup duty, the Trotters manager also lost Kevin Nolan for the start of his FA Cup campaign at Watford next week. The Bolton skipper picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 4-1 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday to leave Allardyce wondering how he will patch his squad up for the Vicarage Road trip.
Already acutely concerned at the damage which could be sustained to Bolton’s league form over the next month, Allardyce knows if his side fail to end Liverpool’s current 10-match winning streak, they could find themselves sucked back into mid-table. That could happen by the time his African contingent return in mid-February.
