English League Cup and FA Premiership: David O'Leary is determined to prove he is not just a "cheque-book manager" as he prepares for his first semi-final as Aston Villa boss.
There is a steely resolve about O'Leary, who feels wronged at such accusations based on his time at Leeds where funds were once in plentiful supply to recruit players.
It is a totally different scenario at Villa Park, O'Leary had just £4 million to spend last summer which he invested on the Sunderland duo of Gavin McCann and Thomas Sorensen - while 10 players have left the club in that time. He admits a place in the League Cup final - if Villa can overcome Bolton in their two-legged semi-final - would be "the icing on the cake" after setting his sights on Premiership survival as his main goal for 2003/'04.
O'Leary said: "People say I spent £90 million at Leeds United on players, but no one ever says that I brought in £60 million from selling players. With that £30 million I helped to get them into Europe every year. I think I spent well at Leeds. What I took this job for was to shut people up who were on about that sort of stuff."
O'Leary was confident from the outset - having already proved to himself, in his early days at Leeds, he could manage on a budget too. "In my first year at Leeds I spent just £4 million - on David Batty - and got them into Europe," he observed. "I'd love to do the same here - and if I did that it would be a bigger achievement than at Leeds without a shadow of a doubt."
Simon Charlton could return to the Bolton team following a hamstring problem. Fellow defender Emerson Thome is doubtful with a calf injury while midfielder Per Frandsen is suspended. Nigerian Jay-Jay Okocha is expected to captain the side after delaying his departure to the African Nations Cup.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier hopes Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard are about to show why they have been missed so much by the club. The pair are set to face Wolves tonight in a match Liverpool dare not lose if they are to go on harbouring hopes of Champions League qualification.
Gerrard returns after four games out with a thigh injury while Owen will start only his third match since early November. Houllier said: "What manager would be mad enough to say he did not miss two outstanding international players? When Steven plays for England they do not lose, look at the results, they always win or draw when he plays. And you know Michael can always score goals."
The pair have only played together 12 times for Liverpool this season but have lost just two of those, while eight of Owen's nine goals have been scored with Gerrard in the team.
Wolves boss Dave Jones believes the confidence boost following his side's weekend win over Manchester United will serve to stiffen the resolve ahead of Liverpool's arrival at Molineux. Wolves are seeking to extend an unbeaten home run into an eighth consecutive Premiership game.
Jones has lost the services of on-loan Hassan Kachloul as the Moroccan has returned to Aston Villa after an injury-plagued spell at Molineux. His place on the bench is expected to be taken by Joey Gudjonsson.
