The international break is over and Wanderers return to League One action when Northampton come to town.

Ian Evatt’s men were beaten 3-1 by Carlisle in their last outing despite going in front through a Jon Mellish own goal.

The Whites are sixth in the table at this stage, though they have played a game fewer than most of the sides around them.

Team news

Bolton skipper Ricardo Santos is back available. The towering defender hasn’t featured since the defeat at Reading last month due to injury.

Gethin Jones could also be involved after serving his three-match ban following his sending off against Peterborough.

Paris Maghoma is back in contention after recovering from a thigh problem, while Carlos Mendes Gomes is nearing a return to action.

However, Kyle Dempsey will be out for up to a month after it was revealed the midfielder had been playing with a fractured vertebrae in his back.

Opposition lowdown

Northampton currently sit 19th in the table as they aim to build on last season’s promotion from the fourth tier.

Jon Brady’s side suffered a 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury in their last outing, with Daniel Udoh getting the decisive goal in stoppage time.

The Cobblers have recorded wins on the road against Cheltenham and Exeter since the start of the campaign.

Head-to-head

Wanderers have faced Northampton 13 times in their history, with a record of seven wins, one draw and five defeats.

The Whites ran out 2-1 winners when the sides last met in March 2017 thanks to goals from Adam Le Fondre and Filipe Morais.

Their last defeat in the fixture came in August 2008 in a Carabao Cup tie, playing the second half with 10 men after Gary Cahill was given his marching orders. Adebayo Akinfenwa bagged a brace for the Cobblers, while Kevin Nolan pulled one back eight minutes from time.

Predicted line-up

The Bolton News: