Gary Madine, Cardiff City’s battling striker, looks certain to miss their Championship home clash with his former club Bolton Wanderers this evening.
Madine gave everything during a bruising, physical clash with Millwall defenders during a 1-1 draw at the New Den and suffered a broken nose.
Kenneth Zohore stands by to take over at centre-forward in a match which could fire up Cardiff’s promotion chase.
A win would lift the Bluebirds and send them into Saturday’s clash with Middlesbrough at Cardiff City Stadium on a high.
Bolton are battling for points to climb the table, while fourth-placed Cardiff are still in the hunt for the automatic promotion places.
“The match at Cardiff is our game in hand,” says Bolton manager Phil Parkinson.
“What a chance we have to move above Reading, a team we’ve been targeting for a while. It will be fantastic if we can earn a positive result down there and we’ll be giving our all to do just that.
“We beat Cardiff City at home not too long ago. We know what they are about. Neil (Warnock) has done a fantastic job. We know what we have to do and are looking forward to it.
“We’re mentally and physically ready for Cardiff.”
Bolton won 2-0 against Cardiff at home, when Josh Vela and Madine scored their goals, and they are intent on completing the double.
Parkinson has hinted he will start former Cardiff striker Adam LeFondre this evening, saying: “His goal (in 1-1 draw v Fulham) was fantastic and his all-round play on Saturday was extremely good.
“He is pushing for a starting place.”
This evening’s Sky Bet Championship match against Bolton (7.45pm) is a game in hand for both clubs and City can move closer to the top three with a home victory.
The Trotters, meanwhile, are hovering two points above the relegation zone in 19th place, having won seven of their 30 matches. They have, though, only lost once in 2018, a 2-0 defeat against Brentford at Griffin Park.
Former Bluebirds player Sammy Ameobi is Bolton’s top scorer with four goals, while ex-City full-back is also likely to be in their squad.
Craig Noone is also at Bolton, but has not played over the last month.
Cardiff City, possible: Etheridge, Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett, Paterson, Grujić, Ralls, Wildschut, Hoilett, Madine.
