By Mark Heys
December 22 2005

Henrik Pedersen is fearful for his place in the side as a achillies injury continues to disrupt his early season progress with Bolton Wanderers. The Danish striker had started the season as a makeshift left back and was playing regularly in the starting line up until the injury in October halted his run in the first eleven.

Now a worried Pedersen admits that his long term absence could prove costly as he beleives that new players will be brought to the club in January thus hampering his chances of getting his place back in the side.

"It's truly regrettable that I couldn't avoid the surgery," said the 30-year old to Danish Newspaper BT yesterday.

"The doctor who did the surgery told me that it was absolutely necessary. I didn't play in my favourite position, but I was a regular starter.

"Now I believe new players will be brought in and when I get back, all places might be taken already."

Pedersen is now in his fifth season with the club having been signed from Silkeborg upon the Trotters return to the Premiership in 2001.