Premier League preview: Newcastle v Bolton

Newcastle continue to harbour hopes of an unlikely Champions League berth when they entertain Bolton on Monday in the Premier League.

There will be little respite for either side ahead of the clash – just three days rest for Newcastle who are buzzing after four wins on the bounce, while Bolton have been afforded just two after their disappointing 3-0 loss to Fulham on Saturday.

Newcastle sit level on 56 points with fifth-placed Chelsea and two behind Arsenal ahead of their home game with Manchester City.

And their recent run has been all the more impressive given the likes of Fabricio Coloccini, Chiekh Tiote (both hamstring), Leon Best (knee), Stephen Taylor (Achilles) and Gabriel Obertan (knock) are still on the sidelines.

The deadly Papiss Cisse has scored three consecutive braces in the run of wins for a staggering seven goals in four games and nine goals in eight games for the club since his move from Freiburg.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle was left bitterly disappointed after the 3-0 loss at home to Fulham put the skids on their recent push to avoid the drop.

Coyle’s men bore little resemblance to the side that had recently posted three crucial wins against relegation rivals QPR, Wolverhampton and Blackburn.

That run earned Coyle the manager of the month award earlier in the week but that momentum proved shortlived.

“The level of performance that we’ve had recently wasn’t there today. We have to bring that back,” Coyle said.

Bolton are in 16th but only one point clear of three rivals, QPR, Blackburn and Wigan, with two of that cluster likely to face relegation.