Ian Evatt provides Bolton Wanderers squad update after Exeter City clash | OneFootball

Bolton Wanderers have been dealt a few injury blows over the last few weeks, with Amadou Bakayoko becoming the latest player to pick up an issue.

The forward had to withdraw from Bolton’s squad late on ahead of Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Exeter City, with Ian Evatt revealing afterwards that he is now down to the bare bones when it comes to senior players who are available.

Still, Bolton managed to put on a show against the Grecians, especially in the first half, in what the Bolton boss described as the “best of the season so far.”

Providing an update on his squad whilst in conversation with The Bolton News, Evatt said: “We’ll have to say a few prayers now.

“It is important we keep the intensity of training high because that is when we are at our best.

“We have had to back off them with the illness and injuries we have had of late, and that is why you saw the fatigue creep in the second half (against Exeter).

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“But hopefully we can get over the illness which has really plagued the camp over the last few weeks and then we have players returning all the time. There are no real long-term concerns other than George Thomason. Ricardo Santos is improving all the time, Gethin Jones in a couple of weeks, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson probably two weeks, Izzy (Lloyd Isgrove) getting closer.

“Things aren’t all bad but we do have to keep the rest of them in one piece.”

The verdict

It has been a testing time for Bolton in recent weeks on the injury front, however, they have maintained their high standards even amidst this difficult period.

Managing to put on what Evatt described as the best half of football this season, when missing as many individuals as they were, is a real credit to the squad depth that they have.

Sitting in fifth in the League One standings, Bolton will be hoping that they can continue their promotion push, with then automatic positions still not out of the question as things stand.

It will be interesting to see how January plays out for the Trotters, as it may give them an opportunity to ensure that they can continue to cope with absences.