Gardner may've played last game for Bolton

Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle is keen to help Ricardo Gardner recover from his knee injury.

The midfielder is off contract in June.

Coyle was looking no further than assisting him in his rehabilitation when he explained how the decision was taken – in conjunction with the player – to operate now.

“The doctor and the medical staff don’t think he’ll be able to play again before the end of the season,” the Bolton boss told the Bolton News.

“Those are his circumstances, so that’s what we had to do.

“He has a knee injury and it is a real shame for him. But the thing about it is that he’ll be able to come back and have a career.

“The decision was made – and Ricardo had a big part in that. We could have patched it up and he could probably have got away with a month here or there, but then he would be back to square one.

“It was important for him to get it done properly and make sure he still had a footballing career.”