Uefa Cup: Bolton boss Sam Allardyce concedes to being riddled with anxiety on the eve of writing the latest momentous chapter in the club's history.

Allardyce will lead Bolton into their first European game overseas, with his side holding a slender 2-1 advantage over Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Plovdiv gained in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first-round tie at the Reebok Stadium a fortnight ago.

But Allardyce's enthusiasm and ambitions are tempered by worries surrounding an early-season injury crisis, notably in the critical area of defence.

Allardyce has already switched striker Henrik Pedersen to left-back this campaign such was the success of a pre-season experiment, with the Dane since having made the position his own. It is likely others will have to step into the breach at the Naftex Stadium in Bourgas, a port city on the Black Sea and 200 miles outside Plovdiv as Lokomotiv's ground does not meet UEFA guidelines.

Allardyce is definitely without Ivan Campo who last week broke a bone in his right foot, along with Nicky Hunt who fractured his right leg late in Saturday's 1-0 victory at home to Portsmouth.

To add to his concerns, Radhi Jaidi and Gary Speed are also out with hamstring and back injuries respectively, while Abdoulaye Faye is doubtful with a back problem, leading to a call-up for 17-year-old Academy centre-back Jarik Fojut from Poland.

"The players are not as worried about this trip as I am," said Allardyce.

"I am an ambitious man and an ambitious manager. You want people to recognise what you have done, not just in terms of success in winning football matches, but also in terms of achieving things the club have not done before.

"I have always said I take great pride in that, but the real difficulty is managing the situation.

"Even before we get to the start of October, we are devastated by injuries in defence, leaving us thin at this stage and taking the edge off it and dampening my enthusiasm.

"I worry what will happen further down the line when we get into even more games because injuries and suspensions are bound to mount. That is the real worry.

"All we can do is the best we possibly can tomorrow and hope it is enough to get us through."