Bolton Wanderers devise Peterborough plan minus Dion Charles

Ian Evatt will give the Northern Ireland international every possible chance to prove his fitness after a scan earlier this week showed no damage to the joint itself.

The striker is still in pain, however, and a decision will be taken close to kick-off on whether that can be managed to let him take the field.

Evatt is currently working with two different scenarios for his attack.

“Predominantly we can carry on regardless – I think there would be one or two things we would have to change,” he said. “Most of that would be out of possession, against the ball, because Dion is a pressing monster, that’s one of the biggest parts of his game.

“Parts of that might have to change slightly if he is not available but that is something I have to let happen – I am not going to say he is going to play, and I am not going to say he is not going to play. I am going to take it to the last minute and make the decision which is right for the team, the club and Dion.”

Wanderers start the weekend in seventh spot, having played a game fewer than many of the teams around them. They are three points off the current leaders, Portsmouth.

With international breaks coming up in the next two months, Evatt admits he may have to get used to playing catch-up. Games at Barnsley (October 14) and Cambridge United (November 18) are currently at threat for call-ups.

“We are a game behind – and you could say if we win that then we are top of the table again,” he said. “But I don’t worry too much about the table at this moment in time, the one I’ll worry about is the last one.

“I think we’ll lose a game in October and I think we lose another one in November as well, so with the games we fall behind it might mean that we slip down from where we want, or need to be.

“But as I said, provided we keep our focus and our togetherness, picking up that next result, I have no doubt that we can be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.”