Bolton Wanderers: January transfer plan position by position

Messaging from the club over the last few weeks has hinted at a quiet window, with much less business than we have seen in the previous three years under Ian Evatt.

Recent defeats against Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers have reignited some familiar debates about squad depth and quality, and what it will take to ensure Bolton book themselves a spot in the Championship next season.

The club could come under pressure to sell, and Evatt has admitted to working with Chris Markham on a ‘Plan B’ in case an offer comes in that cannot be refused for one of his top stars, like Dion Charles.

Unlike previous years, however, there are no glaring gaps in the squad to be filled… at least at time of writing!

We broke the squad down position-by-position to look where any surprise moves might surface in the next few weeks.

Nathan Baxter has been ever-present in League One so far for Wanderers (Image: camerasport)

GOALKEEPER

Looks like the area is well-stocked, with Nathan Baxter playing every league game so far and Joel Coleman now over his calf injury, hoovering up the extra games in cup competitions.

Youngster Luke Hutchinson was loaned out to Northern Premier League club Marine at the weekend, making his debut in a 3-1 win against Gainsborough Trinity. He will most likely continue to pick up games on loan in the second half of the season, recalled in the event anything happened to one of the senior stoppers.

Gethin Jones, left, and Jack Iredale, right, have been watched by Australia (Image: camerasport)

CENTRE-BACKS

The trio of Gethin Jones, Ricardo Santos and Eoin Toal have been used for the last nine consecutive league games and that looked unlikely to change, until very recently.

Santos is suspended for Saturday’s game against Leyton Orient, which could give an opportunity to Will Forrester, who has impressed when given the opportunity since signing from Port Vale.

Since George Johnston injured his knee in pre-season there has been a discussion among supporters about the depth of cover at centre-half, and particularly on the left side, where Toal has had a couple of difficult games of late.

Iredale also looks happier when played as a wing-back – and with Johnston side-lined for the rest of this season there is still a little question mark hanging over the position and whether it has been filled satisfactorily.

Evatt has remained quietly confident that his squad would be flexible enough to cover all but the worst unavailability, and Josh Dacres-Cogley and Zac Ashworth could also play in the middle at a push.

Josh Dacres-Cogley has played more minutes than any other outfield player at Bolton (Image: camerasport)

RIGHT WING-BACKS

Josh Dacres-Cogley has enjoyed a solid start to his Bolton career and has played more league minutes (1,777) than any other outfield player at the club. He has also been switched to the left on the rare occasion, for example in the win at Wycombe.

Gethin Jones would most likely move across if Dacres-Cogley missed a game, although Luke Matheson has made a strong case with his performances in the cup competitions and seems to be making good progress in the B Team. Evatt has also tinkered with Carlos Mendes Gomes as a very attacking option on that side too.

With Jones and Iredale both being eyed by Australia, there may be an argument for loan cover, but Matheson’s progress will probably save the club a few bob.

Randell Williams has missed a few games with tendonitis in recent weeks (Image: camerasport)

LEFT WING-BACKS

Randell Williams started the first dozen league games on the left flank but has now managed just four of the last seven, thanks to some issues with tendonitis.

Iredale offers a slightly different skillset, a different range of passing, more of an aerial presence, but as mentioned he is also on Australia’s radar for next month’s Asian Cup.

Injuries have kept us from getting a good look at Ashworth since he came in from West Brom with a view to a permanent move but provided he can stay fit there may be opportunity on the horizon.

Youngster Max Conway has gained important experience on loan with AFC Fylde in the National League and Sam Inwood has also had a brief taste of first team action this season.

If any position in the Wanderers squad still looks up for grabs in the New Year, it is probably on the left, but it seems doubtful that Evatt will look elsewhere for options.

Aaron Morley brings creativity to a busy midfield department - but does it lack something? (Image: camerasport)

CENTRAL MIDFIELD

Josh Sheehan has managed the third-most minutes on the pitch for Bolton this season and was missed at the weekend in defeat to Bristol Rovers.

The Welsh playmaker has been as close to first choice as it gets in the midfield ranks, where despite having plenty of choice, the clamour for a certain type of player among the fans remains undiminished.

Alongside Sheehan’s grace and guile there is the direct running and dribbling skills of Brentford loanee Paris Maghoma, the energy and dynamism of Kyle Dempsey and the passing genius of Aaron Morley.

Injury issues have prevented Carlos Mendes Gomes from getting a good run in the team but the former Luton Town man now looks ready to challenge for a spot, be that as a central midfielder or as a deeper-lying attacker, at least until he goes on international duty with Guinea Bissau.

The sale of MJ Williams in the summer raised alarm bells in the fanbase over the lack of a defensive midfielder capable of winning back possession and offering the physicality that others do not – and in this sense, George Thomason has come into his own.

The 22-year-old has arguably been Bolton’s most improved player this season, sharpening some of his attacking instincts too when asked to push forward in Dempsey’s absence of late.

Nelson Khumbeni has also shown first team potential and is now with B Team colleague Conway at AFC Fylde picking up valuable first team minutes.

Wanderers do not have a huge amount of promotion experience at this level spread around the squad, and particularly in midfield. That slight naivety showed through at Portsmouth last week and with the pressure only set to increase in the months ahead, could it be something Evatt and Co look at?

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson has established himself in recent weeks while Dan Nlundulu, right, picked up an injury (Image: Camerasport)

STRIKERS

Considering the mass concern at the lack of goalscoring options in the squad before the season, Bolton haven’t fared too badly.

Dion Charles has 14 club goals in all competitions this season and is well on course to hit the 20-mark for the second successive year.

Victor Adeboyejo played a willing foil for the first few months of the season, adding six goals, but has recently found his position in the team come under threat from a fit-again Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, who also has half a dozen goals from the cup competitions.

The unfortunate Dan Nlundulu will be missing for the next couple of months with a hamstring injury, just as his Wanderers career looked to be getting going, and Cameron Jerome has been used increasingly sparingly.

Conor Carty could theoretically be available to play from January onwards, having completed a successful loan spell at St Patrick’s – but the signs point to him finding another club closer to home to continue his progress in the second half of the season.

Evatt has already said his biggest challenge is keeping his squad together – a statement presumably tilted towards the reported Championship interest in Charles. But even if the Northern Ireland international stays in situ, there are legitimate questions as to who other than him can provide a regular source of goals?