WE'VE GOT WESLEY BROWN

Last updated : 06 January 2004 By editor

"We have missed Wes, even though we have been doing well defensively in the period he has been out," said Neville.

"He is a really tough lad and performance-wise he has always been fantastic for us, either at right-back or centre-half. He showed great energy to get through yesterday's game, particularly because their forwards did a lot of work. Darius Vassell must have had about 15 runs into the corner. But Wes just kept matching him and then got stronger as the game went on, which says a lot about his fitness and his character. All that we can ask for him now is to stay fit until the end of the season, because he has been so unlucky with injuries."

On Bolton he added

"It's a tough week for us, and Bolton will be very difficult opponents,"

"It's not just because it is a derby, or that they are a big local rival. Sam Allardyce seems to have generated a great spirit up there - and if you look at their results this season the simple truth is that they are as strong as I have known them and harder to beat than they have ever been."