IAN Evatt reckons new stoppage time rules will require a whole new level of fitness for his Wanderers.

Saturday’s 3-0 win against Lincoln City weighed in at a whopping 106 minutes as referee Will Finnie followed new directives to the letter, ensuring the ball remained in play for at least an hour.

Evatt believes the new directives will place a greater physical strain on players, and potentially mean a different approach on the training ground.

“There is no doubt about it, we have to condition our players now to play 105-110 minutes of football and that is a change,” he told The Bolton News. “It will take time and it is not something that will happen overnight.

“It is something the players will have to buy into, get them fit enough and up to speed to play that period of football.”

Evatt feels Bolton’s possession-based game could work in their favour as teams adjust to extra minutes being added on by officials for stoppages like goal celebrations and substitutions.

The Whites have already earned a reputation for scoring late in League One, with just over 31 per cent of their goals over the last two seasons arriving beyond the 75th minute.

The Bolton boss wants to see that trend continue as teams come to terms with the new dimensions of timekeeping.

“I do think the time added on will be of use to us this season,” he said. “When I am making substitutions on 70-80 minutes, for example Cameron Jerome or Carlos Mendes Gomes coming on, there is still 20-25 even 30 minutes left, which is unusual.

“It becomes a case of managing that phase and fortunately for us because we can dominate the ball it is easier for us to rest. I want us to become ruthless and not allow the opposition to rest, to use that time to our advantage.”

Wanderers gave full debuts to Nathan Baxter and Josh Dacres-Cogley against Lincoln, with Paris Maghoma and Carlos Mendes Gomes also making their first appearance from the bench in the second half. Dan Nlundulu also featured as a sub for the first time since his move from Southampton was made permanent.

Evatt said picking a team was no simple task, particularly in midfield where two of pre-season’s outstanding players, Josh Sheehan and George Thomason, were jostling for one spot.

Thomason replaced Sheehan in the second half and played a major part in the third goal – giving his manager another timely nudge.

“Genuinely, that was the hardest decision I had to make today – between Josh (Sheehan) and George, because both had done really well in pre-season,” Evatt said.

“We are lucky to have what I think are six outstanding midfield players and how we balance that now through the season is down to me. I need to pick the right solutions.

“It was a tough decision to leave him out but he showed right away with his first touch what he could do.”