OWEN Coyle will give Stuart Holden every chance to prove his fitness and go head-to-head with Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong at Eastlands.

The US international has not trained since last week because of a thigh strain but Wanderers will wait until the last minute before deciding whether to pitch him into battle with the Dutchman, who broke his leg with an X-rated challenge in March.

The horror tackle earned De Jong only a yellow card at the time but contributed to Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk’s decision to drop the City hardman from his squad a few months later.

And it nearly cost Holden a place in the US squad for the summer’s World Cup finals, although the player did recover in time to feature just once in South Africa.

Coyle is not concerned that De Jong’s presence will affect the 25-year-old, who has made more tackles than any other player in the Premier League this season.

“Stuart needs to come through without any reaction,” said Coyle from the club’s training ground at Euxton yesterday. “If he's not at his maximum, he won't play. It's that simple.

“Stuart has been fantastic for me. De Jong injured him but he still managed to go to the World Cup.

“But if he had finished the season, who is to say he wouldn't have started the World Cup.

“He is a fantastic young player. So, if he is fit and available, great because he is a great player to have.

“If he is fit, he will be focused on doing his job for Bolton, nothing else.”

Coyle has no other new fitness concerns but the Whites boss is presented with a difficult decision between Matt Taylor or City old boy Martin Petrov on the left side of midfield.

Petrov scored a stunner against Blackpool after arriving as a second-half substitute last weekend, giving his manager food for thought as he looks to extend Wanderers’ unbeaten run to six games and potentially earn a top four spot.

"Martin is a fantastic player and wants to be back in the team,” he said. “He was doing well when he was injured but Matty Taylor came in and di ever so well.

“Stuart Holden missed out last week and I suggest Mark Davies was the best player on the park.

“That’s why as a manager you are charged with picking the best team available.

“Martin didn't do himself any harm but neither did the boys before him.

“It's a nice problem to have when you have more than 11 players who deserve to start.”