ABDOULAYE Meite has hit back at claims that he controversially refused to play for Wanderers.

The Ivory Coast international shocked his team-mates and angered manager, Gary Megson, when he failed to turn out for the second half of the 2-0 defeat at Manchester United last week.

But the 27-year-old former Marseille defender, says he was injured in the match and that he told Megson he would be "more of a hindrance to the side if he carried on."

He said: "I would never refuse to play without justification."

Read the full interview in The Bolton News on Saturday.