West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley is backing Jack Collison to emerge from a "difficult" full debut against Bolton on Saturday.

"I feel sorry for Jack Collison because we came here to be as strong as we could and I felt that if we matched them up in the middle of the park, Jack would get his chance to express himself but we never got a chance for the first 45 minutes," said the manager.

"As soon as the goal went in we had to change it. It's disappointing for him but he'll get over it."