A FIRST team return for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Eoin Toal is just around the corner.
Ian Evatt has confirmed that the pair – who have yet to feature in Wanderers’ opening two games in league and cup – could be back in contention in around a week’s time.
Bodvarsson had been nursing a minor hamstring problem, while Toal is still on the comeback trail after an ankle injury first picked up during the Papa Johns Trophy final in April.
Both players have been put on an intensive fitness programme to bring them back up to speed with the rest of the squad and give them some added durability.
Evatt announced after the Carabao Cup win against Barrow: “I would think that Jon will be back available slightly before Eoin – and I’d imagine we are looking at the Fleetwood game next Tuesday for that one.
“Eoin would probably be the following Saturday.”
Wanderers head to Cheltenham Town this weekend expecting a very different 90 minutes from their previous victories against Lincoln City and Barrow.
Evatt’s side had 70 and 80 per cent possession, respectively, in the two games, dominating on home turf against opposition who were more than happy to surrender the ball.
On a tighter pitch at Whaddon Road the Bolton boss has warned his players they will need to adopt a completely different approach.
“I think we had complete control,” he said of the midweek win against Barrow. “It was the most convincing 1-0 I have ever been a part of but great credit for them for staying in it. They were respectful towards the way we play – and I think Lincoln were at the weekend as well. Teams know how dangerous we can be.
“I think we are improving, the squad is really good, we have options, it is now just a case of picking the right ones for the right games.
“In both games so far we have had the ball for large periods, and if teams are going to come with that type of gameplan then we only need one goal.”
Evatt admitted there were chances in the first half against Barrow to have made the game and score-line more comfortable but he urged his players to concentrate on getting the job done first.
“We could have probably had more goals in the first half but we shouldn’t take any victory for granted,” he said.
“It is easy to say: ‘Oh, why are we not scoring two, three, four.’ But you can’t have everything.
“We have had complete control for large periods, if not all apart from injury time. Let’s just stay humble and get ready for Cheltenham, which is going to be a completely different type of challenge.”
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