STUART Holden believes Wanderers’ firepower can keep them flying high in both the Premier League and FA Cup.

Owen Coyle’s men set up a quarter-final clash with Birmingham with a superb 1-0 victory at Fulham on Sunday.

And eighth-placed Bolton are chasing Europa League qualification following a run of four wins in five games.

Ivan Klasnic’s second FA Cup winner in five days ensured the Reebok club reached the last eight for the first time since 2005, while Daniel Sturridge, who was cup-tied for the trip to Craven Cottage, has bagged three goals in three games since arriving on loan from Chelsea.

And American Holden believes Wanderers’ options up front can keep them firing in both competitions. “We can fight on two fronts,” said the influential midfielder.

“We’re a little bit thin at the back but when guys have been asked to fill in they have done well.

“But going forward and in midfield we’ve got a number of options. When we have made changes we have still been able to get results, and that gives us confidence and momentum to go and get more of them.”

Wanderers’ resurgence has been built on defensive solidity as much as forward play though, with five clean sheets in their last six games the basis for their turnaround after a dip in form over Christmas.

Fans feared the worst when Sam Ricketts was sidelined for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles at Wigan last week – just days after Zat Knight was ruled out for six weeks with knee ligament damage.

But David Wheater, who has yet to concede a goal since joining from Middlesbrough, has impressed in Knight’s absence, Paul Robinson has switched effortlessly to the right and young Spaniard Marcos Alonso stepped up at left-back to make light of the problems.

Holden, the club’s player of the season so far, has hailed the makeshift back four’s efforts ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Newcastle at St James’ Park.

“Wheater has got a great pedigree coming from Middlesbrough but Zat was doing so well when he arrived, he couldn’t get in the team,” said the 25-year-old.

“But when Zat picked up the unfortunate injury, Wheats has come in and looked a class act from the first second against Everton.

“He and Gaz have really formed a great partnership and that’s three clean sheets on the trot now. That was something that was really hard to come by at the start of the season, but we have shored up that area now, we’re taking our chances and coming into some good form.

“It was a great opportunity for Marcos to come in because he’s been waiting all season to get a good run in the team, so hopefully now he can get some experience and show what a talent he is.

“Robbo being asked to play left or right, you know you’re going to get 110 per cent from him wherever he is. He did just as well at right back as he has done all season.”