Bolton captain Kevin Nolan is hoping his upcoming suspension will allow him to rest a back injury ahead of the club's relegation run-in.Nolan picked up his 10th yellow card of the season in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Manchester City, and will now miss the games against Arsenal and Aston Villa.

However, the midfielder believes the break could boost his fitness for the relegation battle after he sat out the 2-0 defeat at Manchester United last week with a back complaint.

And Nolan also admits that he would have no qualms in accepting a bit-part role when he is available again as it will mean Bolton have returned to form.

"I'm out now for two games and it'll give me a chance to rest my back ready for the last few weeks," said Nolan in The Sun.

"But I seriously hope I'll be out of the team for the next four or five games because that will mean they have been winning and I can't get my place back.

"These next two are massive. Hopefully in five weeks' time I'll have just have got back in the team because before that we won four on the bounce!

"I'm the worst watcher in the world and it's going to be tough, but I have full faith that the lads can get the results we need without me."

Nolan was booked against City for a foul on Vedran Corluka and the Trotters skipper was unhappy with the Croatian defender's reaction to the challenge.

He added: "I thought the booking was a bit harsh, I felt Corluka made a bit of a meal of it - that's what these lads do when they come over here.

"We just get up and get on it with it - that's the English mentality, but from him I sort of expected it."

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