Bolton boss Gary Megson has leapt to the defence of Kevin Davies as he feels the striker shows the spirit that can rescue his struggling side.The 30-year-old was branded the Premier League's dirtiest player in the build up to Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at Manchester United which kept Wanderers two points away from safety in their bid to beat the drop.

Statistics bear out that argument, with Davies committing the most fouls in the top flight last season and leading the way once more this time around.

But Megson insists the numbers do not add up in Davies' case and believes the former Blackburn forward is a victim of his own endeavour.

"He's wholehearted, that's his game, he tries and puts a great deal of effort into it," the Trotters boss said.

"He's a big lad and sometimes with all those things you are going to commit a few fouls - but he also gets fouled an awful lot.

"But he's a good lad and some of the things that were said about him were unfair. You saw him play (against United) - he's honest. He's not a dirty player or malicious, he just gets on and gives it his best shot."

Another player who could rarely be accused of shirking his duties is captain Kevin Nolan.

The midfielder missed the United clash and is once again a doubt for the crucial clash with Manchester City at the Reebok Stadium.

Nolan has been playing through the pain barrier of late with a back injury brought on after a problem was masked by injections administered to him earlier in the campaign.

But with eight matches left to salvage their top-flight status, Megson admits he is desperate to have his figurehead back.

"Most people wouldn't even be getting in the car to go to the training ground and get treatment," Megson said of Nolan's attitude to his recovery process.

"He's playing awfully banged up and in a lot of distress - but he's playing because he realises the position we're in and that we need all hands on deck.

"He's a terrific lad and a really good player and we need him out there as often as we can."

Of the injury, Megson added: "It's been caused by the fact he had injections earlier on so that he could play, which has given him a bit of an imbalance which he couldn't feel because of the injections, and now that's causing problems.

"There are very few players that would have had the fortitude to play on like he has, but players like him are few and far between."

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