BRUNO N'Gotty has given Wanderers a boost as they bid to kick start their season at the Reebok.

The big French defender has made a rapid recovery from a hamstring injury and is set to return to his familiar right-back role against Middlesbrough's multi-faceted attack.

It looks like the former AC Milan man, switched to the centre of defence since Gudni Bergsson's retirement, will replace Nicky Hunt in a back four Sam Allardyce reckons could be the key to his first win of the season.

New signing Emerson Thome made such an impressive debut in N'Gotty's absence when Wanderers kept a clean sheet against Charlton last time out that the Bolton boss is likely to give the Brazilian another chance to forge a centre-back partnership with Florent Laville.

With Ricardo Gardner settled in the left back role, Allardyce believes Wanderers have a platform from which to launch a push up the table after taking just two points from their first four games, provided his attackers can start taking their chances.

Boro are a point worse off but Wanderers will not underestimate Steve McClaren's under-achievers

McClaren has spiced up his already impressive creative department by taking Chelsea's Dutch international Boudewijn Zenden on loan and could have Michael Ricketts back in his starting line-up for the first time this season.

"It will be interesting to see what he (McLaren) puts out but we know that, at all costs, we must get a victory," Allardyce said. "It will be a nervous game for both teams because we are in the same boat but if we can keep the Middlesbrough front line quiet like we did with the Charlton attack, we will have chances to win the game.

"Our job then will be to take those chances."

Having scored just one goal in open play this season, the Wanderers strikers are on notice with two-time Golden Boot winner Mario Jardel, who returns today from a week's intensive training in Spain, just a couple of reserve team games away from a Premiership call and Spurs Ukraine international Sergei Rebrov still a target.

Work permit regulations prevented Wanderers signing Rebrov before the transfer deadline but Allardyce says he will try again when the transfer window opens in January, if things do not pick up on the goal front.

Former France international Ibrahim Ba, who became a Wanderer yesterday, and Paul Warhurst, who has returned to the Reebok on a short-term contract, will not figure in tomorrow's squad. But new loan signing Glen Little will.

The Burnley winger has never played top flight football but Allardyce confirmed he will be in the reckoning. "He's been a much-watched player for two or three years without anybody taking a chance on him," the manager said. "If he can apply himself correctly he's certainly got the talent to show he can be a Premiership player."