I WAS made up when I saw Gary Cahill back in the squad at Everton on Saturday.

He might have only made the subs’ bench but it would have been a great boost for the lad to be involved again after being out for so long, and will have given the entire team a lift.

The lads who have filled in for Gary these past few weeks have done exceptionally well but there’s no getting away from the fact that he is a top class player, a quality defender and — as we’ve seen so often this season — can chip in with some important goals. We have missed him and it’s great to see him back, challenging to get back in a Bolton shirt again and back in with a chance of going to the World Cup.

I’ve no intention of trying to pick Owen Coyle’s team for him but I’m sure he’ll be giving careful consideration to having Gary involved against Manchester United on Saturday.

It’s a shame the lads are going into the United game on the back of a defeat because I thought they deserved to get something out of the game at Goodison Park.

Obviously, Gretar Steinsson’s sending off 20 minutes from the end completely changed the game. Until then I thought the lads were very comfortable indeed and had created the best scoring chances in the first half.

Going down to 10 men was bad enough, but conceding from the free kick was a double blow.

I felt for Gretar because there was hardly any contact with Yakubu, yet the challenge had so many consequences. It cost us at least a point, possibly three, and it means Gretar now misses games, which is rough on the lad considering how well he’s played to get back into the team and keep his place.

And what about Mikel Arteta’s free kick? You can’t blame the lad for trying to pinch those seven yards but the referee or the linesman should have had their wits about them and spotted he was pulling a fast one.

I think that’s why Jussi Jaaskelainen was screaming when the free kick went in. I don’t think he was complaining about the wall not doing its job, he was blaming the officials.

I’m sure the lads will put that disappointment behind them and be pumped up for the United game.

There’s no question in my mind that United are top of the Premier League on merit. They are the best side in the league, they play football the correct way, they have a squad of honest pros, and in Wayne Rooney they have a kid who was already the best in the business but has recently been on fire.

It’s a great test for us but I know Coyley won’t be frightened of it. He’ll have his game plan and he’ll have his players well prepared for a tough 90, sorry 95, minutes — after all, Sir Alex Ferguson’s in town.