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Teacher could meet pupil in midfield this afternoon as two former Anfield starlets square off against each other.
Jay Spearing is pushing hard for a recall to Neil Lennon’s side after impressing Neil Lennon in a second-half cameo at Blackpool last weekend.
If the club skipper does get the nod, which would be his first start in three, he will be out to wrestle control of midfield from a young man who followed in his footsteps at Liverpool just a few short years ago.
Conor Coady was earmarked as a potential replacement for Spearing in the Reds’ first team ranks when he left to join Wanderers, initially on loan, just over two years ago.
But like Spearing he found first team chances limited and after a spell out at Sheffield United, he leapt at the chance to join this afternoon’s opponents Huddersfield Town in the summer.
The 21-year-old has been among the Terriers’ most consistent performers this season and has been virtually ever-present under Mark Robins and his successor Chris Powell.
And the youngster is keen to get back to winning ways after defeats against two of the Championship’s in-form sides in Derby County and Fulham.
“At the minute we seem to be coming up against teams that are kicking on a little bit,” he said. “Bolton is a good side with some very good players. I’m sure that whole club will be on a high after three home wins.
“I know a few of their lads and I know it will be a good game; the likes of Jay and Rob Hall.
“However, we’re focussed on going there and sticking to our game-plan. We’ll get tight, get under their skin, get in their faces and try to play as well. We’ll listen to what the manager has to say and put it into motion.”
Spearing has sat out for Wanderers since the 2-1 defeat at Norwich City when his role in a largely pedestrian midfield performance was heavily criticised.
But the 26-year-old drew praise from Lennon for upping the tempo late in the game at Blackpool last weekend, after a dismal afternoon for wide men Liam Feeney and Max Clayton.
For Spearing to come back into the equation, it would most likely mean a return to the narrow four-man midfield, with Chung-Yong Lee restored to the number 10 role behind Craig Davies.
The form of Neil Danns and Darren Pratley has given Spearing little opportunity to make amends for a bad day at the office at Norwich.
Danns has recovered from a sluggish start to the campaign under Dougie Freedman and now looking back to his energetic best.
Likewise Pratley has seized his first team opportunities and even started to win over sections of the supporters who have been critical of him in the past.
While both players have been employed in deeper roles of late, neither player has offered much of a goal threat this season.
Danns has scored just once in the Championship this season while Pratley hasn’t scored in the league since netting against Reading in August last year.
Spearing has also scored just once, against Bournemouth, highlighting one of the main problems Lennon is looking to address before the transfer window.
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Jay Spearing is pushing hard for a recall to Neil Lennon’s side after impressing Neil Lennon in a second-half cameo at Blackpool last weekend.
If the club skipper does get the nod, which would be his first start in three, he will be out to wrestle control of midfield from a young man who followed in his footsteps at Liverpool just a few short years ago.
Conor Coady was earmarked as a potential replacement for Spearing in the Reds’ first team ranks when he left to join Wanderers, initially on loan, just over two years ago.
But like Spearing he found first team chances limited and after a spell out at Sheffield United, he leapt at the chance to join this afternoon’s opponents Huddersfield Town in the summer.
The 21-year-old has been among the Terriers’ most consistent performers this season and has been virtually ever-present under Mark Robins and his successor Chris Powell.
And the youngster is keen to get back to winning ways after defeats against two of the Championship’s in-form sides in Derby County and Fulham.
“At the minute we seem to be coming up against teams that are kicking on a little bit,” he said. “Bolton is a good side with some very good players. I’m sure that whole club will be on a high after three home wins.
“I know a few of their lads and I know it will be a good game; the likes of Jay and Rob Hall.
“However, we’re focussed on going there and sticking to our game-plan. We’ll get tight, get under their skin, get in their faces and try to play as well. We’ll listen to what the manager has to say and put it into motion.”
Spearing has sat out for Wanderers since the 2-1 defeat at Norwich City when his role in a largely pedestrian midfield performance was heavily criticised.
But the 26-year-old drew praise from Lennon for upping the tempo late in the game at Blackpool last weekend, after a dismal afternoon for wide men Liam Feeney and Max Clayton.
For Spearing to come back into the equation, it would most likely mean a return to the narrow four-man midfield, with Chung-Yong Lee restored to the number 10 role behind Craig Davies.
The form of Neil Danns and Darren Pratley has given Spearing little opportunity to make amends for a bad day at the office at Norwich.
Danns has recovered from a sluggish start to the campaign under Dougie Freedman and now looking back to his energetic best.
Likewise Pratley has seized his first team opportunities and even started to win over sections of the supporters who have been critical of him in the past.
While both players have been employed in deeper roles of late, neither player has offered much of a goal threat this season.
Danns has scored just once in the Championship this season while Pratley hasn’t scored in the league since netting against Reading in August last year.
Spearing has also scored just once, against Bournemouth, highlighting one of the main problems Lennon is looking to address before the transfer window.
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