Owen Coyle, the Bolton Wanderers manager, says Gary Cahill is "absolutely" a part of his plans for tonight's trip to Everton.
Coyle confirmed last Friday that a fee had been agreed with Chelsea for the defender, and talks have been continuing with a view to completing the 26 year old's proposed move to Stamford Bridge.
However, it is unclear how much progress has been made on that front.
Andre Villas-Boas, the Chelsea manager, said later the same day that the parties were "miles apart regarding agreement with the player". On Saturday, after naming Cahill as his captain for the 1-1 draw with Wolves, Coyle stressed that there had only been one meeting between the London club and the England international's representatives.
When quizzed on the matter yesterday, Coyle said that was still the case as far as he knew, and having praised Cahill's performance against Wolves, indicated that until anything changed, the player - who was at Bolton's Euxton training ground yesterday - would continue to be considered for selection as normal.
Asked whether Cahill was in his plans for the match at Goodison Park, Coyle said: "Absolutely."
He added: "The games have come thick and fast, and I would imagine that has restricted people in terms of getting around a table and having dialogue with regard to Gary's representatives and Chelsea (they played again yesterday).
"The other day Gary prepared, and then played at a very high level and will continue to do that - he is an outstanding young man. Whatever comes, we will deal with the situation when it arises."
Coyle has been keen to emphasise that it is nothing new to Cahill to be the subject of transfer speculation.
"Gary is a Bolton player until that changes, so it is one of those ones - what do you do?" Coyle said.
"You could not play him for a month, and then nothing might happen."
David Moyes, the Everton manager, will be able to call on Landon Donovan, the US striker who has signed on a two-month loan deal from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
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