DELROY Facey and Henrik Pedersen have put down markers as they prepare for a battle for front line places with the Reebok new boys.
Strikers Salva Ballesta and Pierre-Yves Andre along with centre-back Florent Laville watched from the stands as Pedersen and Facey helped Wanderers to a 4-2 victory over Birmingham.
It was a crucial basement battle that eased Sam Allardyce's relegation fears and dragged Steve Bruce's Blues back into the melting pot.
Now Allardyce will have something of a selection headache ahead of Saturday's even more crucial trip to West Brom.
Pedersen's claim for his fourth goal of the season - backed by his manager - is likely to go unheeded with midfielder Stephen Clemence the second Birmingham player to be credited with an own goal.
But his involvement was crucial as Wanderers went 2-1 up while Facey's impressive finish for the match-clinching fourth earned him his first goal since his summer move from Huddersfield and underlined his recovery from the life-threatining illness earlier in the season that left him fearing he would never play again.
In between Youri Djorkaeff capped a good performance with his sixth of the season to leave his manager, still backing Pedersen's claim, enthusing: "Three of the front line have scored and that's fantastic for them and for us.
"Perhaps the thought of two strikers coming in behind them has revved them up a little bit more.
"But that's the quality finishing we need and, if we can keep that up, we won't have any problems staying in the Premiership."
Facey was overwhelmed by his impact. "It was important for the team more than anything else," he said. "When I came on it was 2-2 and the gaffer just told me to run about and see if I could score a goal. We got the third then I got the fourth.
"I was just so pleased to score for Bolton Wanderers. Scoring in the Premiership is a major boost for me, a dream come true.
"I've been off for the best part of the season with a serious illness and I didn't think I was going to be playing again. Thankfully I've come back strong now, thanks to the gaffer, Browny (assistant manager Phil Brown) and Macca (first team coach Neil McDonald).
"Everybody had faith in me and they've all helped me along. Now I've been credited with a chance in the first team."
Facey spent two weeks in hospital after contracting severe pneumonia, which was complicated by a muscle-wasting problem and anaemia. He lost almost three stones in weight but regained his fitness and his form thanks to a spell on loan with Bradford.
"The gaffer sent scouts out to watch me and got good reports back," he recalls. "When I came back I went straight into the first team squad. There's nothing better than match practice and now I'm feeling the benefit."
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