NEW signings Danny Murphy and Francis Jeffers are not guaranteed debuts in Charlton's side at Bolton for Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener.

Manager Alan Curbishley is playing his cards close to his chest regarding his first selection despite splashing £5.1 million on the pair this week.

Of the two, midfielder Murphy is the more likely to start at the Reebok with striker Jeffers among the substitutes. Curbishley is looking to Murphy to fill the void left by Claus Jensen's abrupt departure to Fulham.

It seems almost certain that Denmark international winger Dennis Rommedahl, a £2m signing from PSV Eindhoven, will make his Premiership debut.

Curbishley said: "You'll see on Saturday. But it will be a tight game simply because of the way Bolton play. We finished just above them last season so there is little to choose between the two clubs."

England international Murphy, who cost Charlton £2.5m from Liverpool, said he chose Charlton ahead of Tottenham because of the club's rapid rate of progress.

He explained: "I've come to Charlton because the club has progressed so much. I've played against them regularly for Liverpool and know they are getting better all the time.

"I had good offers from Tottenham and Charlton but I made the decision to move to The Valley because the club play the right style of football, which is important to me.

"Charlton are on a level with Tottenham and I believe they are overtaking them. With Alan Curbishley in charge they will keep progressing and become as big, if not bigger than Tottenham."

Jeffers, who cost £2.6m knows he must recapture the form that saw him score 20 goals in 70 games for Everton and which prompted Arsenal to pay £8m for him.

"I'm desperate to get my career back on track and to do that I need to be playing regularly," he said. "Coming to Charlton represents a big challenge which I have to meet."