Coyle’s shielding of Lee pays off as he secures Bolton’s Wembley spot

But Coyle is also mindful in the short term of ensuring Lee does not suffer footballing burnout.

The South Korean has been playing non-stop football for almost two years after being part of his country’s squad at last summer’s World Cup.

Coyle has been managing the extent of Lee’s contribution in recent weeks and he was a substitute for Saturday’s tie with Birmingham at St Andrew’s.

But Lee came off the bench and scored a last-gasp winner over a home side decimated by injuries and lacking eight first-team regulars.

Coyle said: “The reason Chungy is not starting is that kid has played for two years without any sort of a break.

“If I was to keep playing him week-in and week-out, come the end of March he would have nothing left in the tank. As a manager I have to be very conscious of that.

“If it means Lee sits on the bench, comes on as an impact player and then starts games here and there, to make sure come the end of the season he is still fresh for me, then that’s what we will do.

“Lee will go on to play for one of the top clubs because he has everything in his locker. He has got a footballing intelligence that you can’t give players.

“He has an unbelievable touch, he can take the ball in tight areas. He is great to have at the club.”

Bolton captain Kevin Davies is looking to finally enjoy some good fortune in the competition.

Davies was part of the Chesterfield team which had a perfectly good ‘goal’ disallowed, when the ball was clearly over the line, in the 1997 semi-final against Middlesbrough.

He was then left out of the Southampton team which reached the final six years later.

Davies said: “It’s been an unlucky trophy for me so far and people ask me about the Chesterfield game. I know it is only a semi-final but we are at Wembley and we are hoping to have two trips there this year.”

The big plus for Birmingham was the performance of 17-year-old Nathan Redmond, the club’s second youngest debutant after Trevor Francis.

He caused problems down the right flank after coming on as a substitute and set up City’s second goal for Kevin Phillips, which looked to have ensured a replay before Lee’s late header.

Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies were also on target for Bolton, with Cameron Jerome scoring City’s opener.