Ex-Toon Players Battle For Fitness For Europe

Last updated : 14 September 2005 By Footy Mad - Editor

Gary Speed is almost certainly out of Bolton's UEFA Cup debut against Lokomotiv Plovdiv at the Reebok Stadium on Thursday. With the club preparing to play in Europe for the first time with a first round, first leg against the Bulgarians, manager Sam Allardyce confirmed midfielder Speed has a hamstring problem "that is probably enough to keep him out".

Meanwhile, Hibernian skipper Gary Caldwell is set to make a shock return in Thursday's UEFA Cup first round, first leg clash with Ukraine outfit Dnipro at Easter Road.

Doctors predicted the 23-year-old defender would be out for at least another few weeks after breaking two ribs and puncturing a lung in the defeat to Hearts on August 7.

But the Scotland international came through a reserve match with Dundee United unscathed and is in line for a dramatic return at the expense of Chris Hogg.