Bolton manager Owen Coyle is convinced it is only a matter of time before Liverpool striker Andy Carroll finds his form again.
Misfiring Liverpool striker "is an outstanding young player"
Bolton manager Owen Coyle is convinced it is only a matter of time before Andy Carroll finds the sort of form that made him such a huge favourite at Newcastle.
Carroll has struggled to live up to his £35million price tag - which makes him the most expensive British footballer in history - in the 12 months since he left Tyneside to join Liverpool.
Far from leading the line, the 23-year-old could not even make the Reds' starting line-up for last weekend's draw at Stoke, even though Luis Suarez is in the middle of an eight-match suspension.
Carroll is hoping to be recalled for Saturday's trip to Bolton but Coyle, for one, would not welcome that news as he believes the big number nine is a class act.
"I don't think there is any doubt he will reproduce that form," said Coyle.
"He is an outstanding young player.
"The thing is, when you get that kind of criticism you have to come through it with a smile on your face.
"It will serve him well. His quality is unquestioned. We have to make sure he doesn't show it against us."
Point to prove
Carroll might not be the only forward with a point to prove this weekend, with Bolton's David Ngog coming up against his old club.
Ngog joined Wanderers from Liverpool in a £4million deal in August, having shown glimpses of ability without being able to reproduce it on a consistent basis.
The 22-year-old has suffered in similar fashion at his new club too, although the settling-in process was not helped by a knee injury.
With only two goals to his name, Ngog could do with starting to find the net on a regular basis to help Bolton in their relegation fight.
However, Coyle says he has detected positive signs over the last half a dozen games.
"Globally, Liverpool are an elite club," he said.
"There is no shame in not being able to oust Fernando Torres and the education he got at Anfield will serve him well for the rest of his career.
"He came here for a fresh challenge and we have a lot of belief in him.
"It is up David to show he would have been worthy of being a Liverpool player. The only difference is that he has to do it for Bolton."
An easing to Bolton's massive injury problems is in sight, although they will continue to miss the absences of both Jussi Jaaskelainen and Tyrone Mears this weekend.
Goalkeeper Jaaskelainen has returned to training after a knee injury while Mears came through a closed-doors outing following his recovery from a broken leg he suffered before he had played a competitive game for the club.
Status
Coyle will hope such news triggers an improvement in fortunes for Bolton in a season that has so far brought just one home win.
A second against a club of Liverpool's standing would serve as a massive boost, even though the fortunes of Saturday's opponents have slipped far below the standards they set in the 1980s.
"It doesn't affect their status, just as it never affected Manchester United's status when they hadn't won the championship for 26 years until Sir Alex Ferguson sorted it out," said Coyle.
"Kenny Dalglish is used to winning trophies and football can change from one year to another.
"Liverpool will deem it as a long time since their last championship but in that period, they have still won trophies, including the Champions League.
"Now they are on the verge of reaching the Carling Cup final, when they would be big favourites given a team from the Championship will be the opposition.
"There is no doubt Liverpool will always be amongst the honours."
