EL-HADJI Diouf will add extra spice to Sunday’s Bolton-Blackburn duel at the Reebok.

The game itself is massive anyway — a real six-pointer between two teams who are down there just above the bottom three and both desperate for the points.

But it will be extra special for Diouffy, being his first time back at the ground where he was a big favourite with the fans.

I know he’s not everybody’s cup of tea and he’s one of the those players opposition supporters love to hate. But he is a hell of a player and he’s remembered in these parts as a real character.

He’s a great fella too. People often concentrate on the bad things he’s done down the years and I’m sure he’ll regret a few of the things that have put him into the spotlight for the wrong reasons. But I know he does a lot of charity work behind the scenes which goes un-noticed and unreported.

The game needs characters and, love him or loathe him, there’s no denying Diouffy is a real character.

It’s going to be interesting to see what sort of treatment he gets from his old team-mates but I expect him to get a great reception from the Reebok crowd.

As for Bolton, I hope Gary Cahill responds to his latest international disappointment with a big performance against Blackburn.

He must be deeply frustrated after his latest experience of life with the England squad.

Once again he’s had his hopes raised by being included in the squad for the Brazil game — and again it has come to nothing.

I can’t for the life of me understand what Fabio Capell is playing at, dragging him half way round the world and not even giving him a go.

It’s not as if the Brazil game was of any relevance. It was a friendly and with Rio Ferdinand and John Terry injured, it was the perfect opportunity for the England boss to give him 45 minutes at least.

Gary’s earned the right to show what he can do at international level — otherwise Capello wouldn’t keep putting him in his squads — but he must be wondering whether he will ever get his chance.

I’m sure he will . . . eventually. So, until he does, he’s just got to continue playing well for Bolton and make sure he’s ready when the opportunity arises.

I’m expecting big things from the Bolton fans on Sunday.

They were absolutely fantastic at the Chelsea game and, although they couldn’t influence the result, they were behind the team all the way.

There’s no way of knowing at this stage what team Gary Megson will be able turn out.

I feel for Gary and all the managers at times like this when they’ve had more than half their players away on international duty — mostly for meaningless friendlies.

It’s different if you’re talking about World Cup or European qualifiers but in cases like these, when they’d rather not have their Premiership programme interrupted by an international break, I’m sure most managers will be tearing their hair out, wondering whether their players will return fit and well. The Youth team took a bit of a beating when they lost 3-0 to Blackburn at the weekend.

They gave it a real go in the second half, but they were 2-0 down at half time and they’ve got to learn that you can’t afford to give the opposition a two-goal start, whatever level of football you are playing at.