DARREN Pratley faces at least six weeks on the sidelines after scans showed a fracture in his fibula.

The Wanderers skipper limped off in Monday’s 1-0 win over Hull City fearing he had fractured the same ankle which kept him out for the majority of last season.

Medics are hopeful the 32-year-old will return to Championship action by March but with Karl Henry also side-lined for between two and three weeks with hamstring damage, Phil Parkinson has issues in midfield for this weekend’s FA Cup clash with Huddersfield Town, plus league outings at Brentford and at home to Ipswich Town.

Reports linking the Bolton boss with a move for French midfielder Toumani Diagouraga, whose contract at Plymouth Argyle has expired, have been dashed from inside the club.