Coyle urges Bolton to keep cool

Bolton manager Owen Coyle has urged his players not to get caught up in the heat of the moment as the season enters its crucial final stages.

After Wayne Rooney was banned for two games following his foul-mouthed outburst at a television camera, Coyle has called for his Bolton side to remain calm despite some massive games for the club on the horizon.

Despite their lofty position of eighth in the Premier League table, Bolton are just eight points clear of the relegation zone.

They also have a massive FA Cup semi-final coming up at Wembley next weekend and host West Ham on Saturday in the Premier League

Coyle said: “It is such a passionate and emotional game – these players are not robots.”

“Sometimes that emotion can spill over but you need to be very careful and very wary of your actions.”

“The Premier League gets global coverage and everything comes under scrutiny. Whatever you do is analysed and over-analysed.”

“We know the margins we have to deal with and you just have to do your best and conduct yourself as well as you can.”

Bolton could be buoyed by the return of central defender Zat Knight when struggling West Ham travel to the Reebok at the weekend, after the 30-year-old has been sidelined with a knee injury since February.

“Zat Knight managed to play 45 minutes in the reserves the other night and came through really well,” Coyle said.

“Before that he had played every game under me. He had been outstanding in doing that and is somebody I have a lot of time for as a footballer and equally as a man.”

“He has trained now for two weeks and I felt it was important he got 45 minutes in the reserves to get his distancing and timing right.”

“He looked very comfortable and will train with the team now with a view to being involved on Saturday.”

While Knight represents a huge injury boost for Coyle, Bolton will be missing defender Sam Ricketts (Achilles) while midfielder Stuart Holden is out for the season with a knee problem.