NEIL Lennon is praying a free weekend will mean some of his walking wounded can return to action when his side resume Championship duties next week.

Blackburn Rovers’ FA Cup involvement leaves the Whites kicking their heels until Wednesday when they head to Ewood Park.

But the fact the development squad’s game against Aston Villa has been switched from Leyland to the Macron Stadium on Monday night suggests the manager could be ready to give some of his longer-term injured players a run.

Last week Craig Davies started training on the grass for the first time since mid-January, while goalkeepers Adam Bogdan and Andy Lonergan could be back in contention too.

The long wait for Mark Davies to make his playing return is likely to go a little longer with the midfielder only set to return to training later this month.

Not for the first time Lennon was left cursing his luck on Tuesday night when David Wheater, Kevin McNaughton and Zach Clough were ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.

“You couldn’t make up the luck we’ve had with injuries,” he told The Bolton News.

“Constantly I have got nine players out and I can never pick the side I’d like to. The inconsistency has been incredible.

“Once again the physios are going to be working overtime, they’ve really earned their corn this season.

“But we desperately need some bodies back, senior players, soon because it’s okay saying we can go back into the loan market but I can only play five at a time.”

Considering the lack of consistency Lennon has been able to show with selection, Wanderers’ improvement since he came to the club in October has been all the more impressive.

His early success was based on a relative settled line-up but the New Year brought with it a flurry of injury and suspension problems which cut deep into the squad and forced him to make half a dozen signings in the January window.

Wanderers have now used 38 different players in the Championship this season, a total only matched by Blackpool – whose figure of 48 gives a clue at the chaos at Bloomfield Road – and another of the division’s strugglers, Millwall, with 39.

Wigan, Rotherham and Fulham are also in the high thirties, suggesting a correlation between the number of players a manager uses and problems with form.

Inversely, Bournemouth (23), Brentford (24) and Derby (26) have remained relatively injury-free all campaign, and have seen their league results remain consistent.

On the unavailable list at the moment for Wanderers are Darren Pratley (hamstring), Mark Davies (knee), Craig Davies (hamstring), Adam Bogdan (ankle), Andy Lonergan (concussion), Max Clayton (knee), Kevin McNaughton (leg), David Wheater (hamstring), Zach Clough (shoulder) and Marc Tierney (leg).

To lose three players in a single half was a new experience for Lennon, who had hoped that the worst was over when he previewed the weekend’s win against Brighton.

“Fingers-crossed, a few players are coming back now so we should be looking a little healthier soon,” he added.

Few could have predicted what a profound effect the absence of Pratley would have when he limped out of the 2-2 draw against Wolves on January 31.

While the midfielder had undoubtedly hit top form under Lennon, it was still hoped there were enough options in the middle of the park to cover for his absence.

Yet after Liam Trotter failed to grasp his opportunity, the lack of physical presence has been a problem for the Whites in the last couple of months.

Pratley’s partnership with Neil Danns in screening the back four had been the bedrock of the club’s climb away from the bottom three.

But Danns has looked over-run at times as Pratley spent time on the sidelines and while his effort levels have not dropped, the Liverpudlian’s form has suffered slightly.

Whether Trotter is given another opportunity before the end of the season will be interesting to see – but Barry Bannan has stepped in confidently since arriving on loan from Crystal Palace and while he lacks Pratley’s stature, his ability to hold the ball and pick a pass has proved useful against less physical opponents.

Lennon has had to change his style accordingly. He more than anyone must be looking forward to the end of the season and a chance to clear his treatment room.