Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager, has challenged his new signing to make an impact with the Premier League strugglers. Coyle opted for creative midfielders in the transfer window with Vladimir Weiss and Jack Wilshere signing on loan from Manchester City and Arsenal respectively. Aberdeen-born Stuart Holden also arrived on a short-term deal after leaving the US side Houston Dynamo. "Vladimir and Jack were not going to start in their respective teams but they have an opportunity to do so here," said Coyle. "If they get that chance it is up to them to hold on to the jersey. "It is a fair fight for everyone at this club. If you are doing well you will keep the jersey. They are young exciting players. Stuart also has a chance." Bolton v Fulham, 7pm, Showsports Extra
Brian Laws, the Burnley manager, hopes his new recruits will help to make his team an unknown quantity again. The Clarets enjoyed early-season wins over Manchester United and Everton, but a run of 12 games without a victory has seen them fall into the bottom three. "You talk about the first part of the season in the Premier League and they got away with a lot because they were an unknown quantity in the division," said Laws, who has brought Frederic Nimani, Leon Cort, Nicky Weaver, Danny Fox and Jack Cork to the club over the last few weeks, as well as extending David Nugent's loan until the end of the season. "But the second half of the season is always the toughest because the opposition know more about you." Burnley v West Ham, 7pm, Channel TBA
Roberto Mancini has said Patrick Vieira can propel Manchester City into the Champions League. A month after his arrival from Inter Milan, Vieira is set to make his City debut at Hull today after recovering from a calf injury. "I know Patrick wants to go to the World Cup and for this reason alone I feel he can be very important for us over the next three or four months," said Mancini. "He is a big player, both on the pitch and in the mind "We lost two games recently, against Everton (2-0) and Manchester United (3-1). They were both very different games and at Everton I felt we were tired. But Patrick is so experienced maybe we would not have lost those games if he had been in the team." Mancini also has new signing Adam Johnson available. Hull v Man City, 7pm, Showsports 3
Martin Olsson believes Blackburn can sustain their recent momentum after temporarily breaking into the top half of the Premier League table last week. Last Saturday's goalless draw at West Ham extended Rovers' unbeaten run to three matches and took them up to 10th in the table, their highest position of the season so far. But that changed midweek as Fulham's victory over Portsmouth pushed Sam Allardyce's team back down into 11th. "It felt good to come home and watch TV and see that we were in 10th place," said Olsson. "It gives you that extra confidence to go and play much better next time and go and move up the table. "I think we have got a few games coming up now that we could get three points in." Stoke v Blackburn, 7pm, Show Shasha
Steve Bruce is convinced victory over Wigan today could turn Sunderland's season around as they battle to end a dismal run of results. The Black Cats host Bruce's former club knowing that extending a run of 10 league games without a victory could plunge them into relegation trouble, something which would have been unthinkable just a few months ago. Bruce said: "It's not easy, the situation, but I do think you do become a better manager if you survive it and I am absolutely convinced that we can get the right result and turn our season around again. We are getting to the nitty-gritty party of the season and I am very, very confident that we can get a win and we can turn it around. However, it must come quickly, there's no hiding from that." Sunderland v Wigan, 7pm, Showsports 4
Troubled Portsmouth face a Manchester United side who looked every bit the champions during a 3-1 win at Arsenal last Sunday and would go top of the Premier League with a win today as Chelsea play Arsenal tomorrow. "After the win at Arsenal it's important we kick on from here. Whoever is the most consistent will win the league," said Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager. "Winning against Portsmouth is very important." Avram Grant, whose future is in doubt after Balram Chainrai, became Pompey's fourth owner in a chaotic season, said: "It is very difficult to motivate the players, but we are always trying to touch the right buttons. I always believe. This is football, and in football anything can happen." Manchester Utd v Portsmouth, 7pm, Showsports 2