MATT Mills looks to me like a born leader – he has come on leaps and bounds since Neil Lennon took over as manager.

Last week his wife gave birth to their first baby in the early hours of the morning but he still travelled down sound and performed impressively at his old club Reading. That is good going, considering “the event” let me tell you.

Mills has sometimes been too eager to win every challenge and his defensive positioning has been questioned in the past.

But he has improved, and if he can continue to focus on that side of his game he had a valid contribution to make to this team.

This game requires exactly the same approach as the one against Wigan Athletic; start on the front foot, apply pressure on the opposition and once the crowd gets going, I’m sure the Macron will be a fortress.

I do think this game will be one of the toughest tests Neil Lennon’s side have faced. Ipswich have lost only three times this season, they are unbeaten in six, scoring 12 goals and conceding only four in that time.

Mick McCarthy has assembled an impressive side over the last two years and you can see why they are second in the league.

They are a team which has been moulded in preparation for the Championship and have acquired a lot of experience.

On the other hand Bolton are strong at home these days. They should be grasping that opportunity to do well.

When you look at the attacking options McCarthy has, you know they will have to raise their game defensively.

Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick have scored plenty of goals. They might not be the quickest but they are a handful physically and very strong to deal with at set pieces.

Bolton will miss Craig Davies’s work ethic but the addition of Eidur Gudjohnsen should help – his experience could be crucial over the festive period.

This is also a time for fringe players to keep a positive approach. I have been on both sides of the fence and it’s important when you are not involved that you don’t become a distraction and create a negative atmosphere within the changing room.