It is hardly the ideal scenario for Megson as he attempts to steer the UEFA Cup contenders out of the relegation zone.

But the former West Brom chief is refusing to spend any time bemoaning his bad luck.

“We have a few injuries we have to contend with at the moment but so has everyone else,” he reflected.

“I am not one of those who wants to be flagging something up all the time, or start quoting the number of injuries we have got.

“Nicolas, for one, will not play at West Ham. We would have liked to have him available but we will just take our time so that when he does come back, he stays fit.

“But the fact Nicolas is not playing just gives someone else an opportunity to show what he can do.”

Bolton have just a single point to show from five games on their travels so far this season, an appalling return, particularly as the draw was at Derby, the only club below them in the table.

That most pundits believe Derby to be doomed already – and they are behind Megson’s team only on goal difference – offers an indication of the sorry state Bolton are in.

But Megson remains upbeat, even if he is equally realistic about the chances of a sudden upturn in fortunes.

“The supporters here are very intelligent,” he said.

“They know what they are watching, they know where we are and they know where we want to be.

“It is quite obvious we want to be out of this trouble as quickly as we can and we want to stay out of it.

“But life is not always as easy as you would want it to be.

“We do have one or two injuries but we also have to acknowledge the fact we are averaging half-a-point every time we play.

“If that situation stays the same, we have no chance.”