WITH just over a week to go before the big kick off at Old Trafford, national pundits and the bookies are already tipping Wanderers . . . to avoid the drop!

Most bookies make Wanderers fourth favourites behind Leicester City, Portsmouth and Wolves for relegation.

This is an improvement on last season when Wanderers spent most of the time with the bookies in the bottom three - or top three, whichever way you look at it.

For a comparision you can get 5,000-1 on Arsenal or Wanderers to be relegated!

And fans looking for even more cheer should read The Sun's Super Goals: The Mag.

They say: "Assuming (Sam) Allardyce does find someone to regularly put the ball in the net, they should avoid the drop with some comfort.

"Jay-Jay Okocha is as big a talent as there is anywhere in the Premiership, while there are few wiser heads than Youri Djorkaeff.

"If those two shine again they can look forward to at least another season in the top flight."

Meanwhile, The Times' The Game supplement already pinpoints the Reebok clash with Portsmouth on January 17 as the key game of the season.

They say: "If the pundits are right this will be a clash between teams battle to avoid the dsrop.

"The fixture falls in the middle of the January transfer window. No doubt Sam Allardyce will be wheeling and dealing as usual.

"A bad result here could make him especially determined to improve his squad with a loan signing or three in the two weeks before Wanderers' next Premiership match.

"Bolton face Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in the weeks before this game, so if those results go as expected they will be in need of a win here."

The Sun also suggests that Allardyce, despite being just two years into a 10-year contract could also be on his way.

They say: "Bolton's biggest problem is that they are never going to be among the big shots and if Allardyce enjoys success it would be tempting for him to take up one of the bigger offers that would surely come his way."