KEVIN Nolan was looking long-term on Monday as he prepared for a short-term lay-off.

The young Wanderer checked into hospital for a minor operation to remove a small piece of floating bone from his right ankle, knowing he could be struggling to get back in the side.

He hopes the timing will be right and that he will be fit to face Crystal Palace on Saturday week after the Premiership break. But, if not, he at least knows he will be free of the pain that has been dogging him since last season.

"I've had quite a bit of bother with it so we made the decision to get it done now because we've got a big winter coming up," he said.

"I want to be on top of my game, I want to be available and, if it's going to be better for me and for Bolton Wanderers, then it will be worth missing a game or two.

"But it's an easy operation and I should only be out a couple of weeks, so I'm still looking at the Palace game and seeing how the recovery goes.

"I'm only going to miss games later in the season if I don't get it done now."

Nolan has already felt the effects of the increased competition generated by a raft of new arrivals, having being moved onto the front line after losing his regular midfield slot to Gary Speed.

But he does not begrudge Speed his place. At 35, the super-fit Welshman is still an automatic choice for club and country and his new team-mates in the Reebok dressing room can only marvel at his physical condition.

"He's a great professional," Nolan said. "He's fantastic to have around the dressing room and I just can't understand why Newcastle let him go. He's taken my place in the middle and pushed me out on the right, but I have to say he's been superb. I can't speak too highly of him.

"He's given us something extra that we didn't have last season.

"I got back in there when Jay-Jay was injured, but you don't want to be getting in the team because of someone else's misfortune. When everyone's fit, I might have to settle for going out wide again, but I don't care as long as I play.

"I want a regular place in the side but this ankle thing has obviously come at a bad time for me. But that's life. If I lose my place and have to fight to get back in, then I'll just have to get on with it."