SPURS will almost certainly have to rely again on their emergency strike-force of Jose Dominguez and Paul Mahorn to produce their first goal in four Premiership games at the Reebok Stadium tonight.

Manager Gerry Francis has admitted he is unlikely to pursue the signing of French star Mikhael Madar.

Madar, who wants to quit Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna, has already been offered to both Wanderers and West Ham but failed to agree personal terms and also baulked at suggestions of a trial at Upton Park.

Francis said: "To be honest I can't see this going any further."

He admitted: "We have several inquiries in with a few clubs in Europe because our situation with front-players has become critical.

"It may be important for us to try to take somebody, perhaps on a loan deal, to tide us over until people like Les Ferdinand, Steffen Iversen and Chris Armstrong are ready to come back in but I don't know of anything moving at the moment."

Former Crystal Palace marksman Armstrong is actually back in the squad after suffering a groin strain in his comeback as a substitute against Leicester 11 days ago - his first senior outing since December when he had the first of two ankle operations.

But he was sent off in a reserve game test two weeks ago which brought him a suspension for Saturday's goalless home draw with Blackburn and Francis said: "I don't think I can risk starting him at Bolton." Another boost is that Ireland Under-21 striker Neale Fenn has also recovered from a shoulder injury but he, too, is only likely to be a substitute while Ferdinand's best hope is a return at home to Wimbledon on Saturday following the pulled stomach muscle he sustained training with England two weeks ago.

Francis, who is also still without defender John Scales because of a groin injury, said: "I don't imagine there will be much change in the team from the Blackburn game, but a repeat of the passion they showed in that match is what I want."

Midfielder David Howells, twice deprived of a winner against Rovers by Tim Flowers's excellent goalkeeping, said: "We can still take a lot of heart from the performance and try to build on it at Bolton."

Wanderers' new Reebok Stadium has yet to see a goal but Spurs certainly won't want a repeat of the deluge at Bolton's former Burden Park home last season when Francis's side crashed 6-1 in the Coca-Cola Cup.

He said: "I don't suppose we'll ever be allowed to forget that one but all we can do is try to make up for it. Bolton are still a good side, though, and Manchester United had a very hard game there on Saturday. So we know we've got a another tough test in front of us."

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