Bolton Wanderers boss makes brief statement on injured pair

Wanderers will go to the Lamex Stadium without their top scorer and first-choice keeper, Ian Evatt confirmed at his pre-match press conference.

Charles was with the Northern Ireland squad and pictured in some of their training drills over the international break, while Baxter has had a splint removed which had previously stabilised a wrist ligament injury.

But the Bolton boss delivered a brief and blunt response when asked about the pair’s fitness when he was quizzed in the lead-up to the game.

“They are not available, and that is all I want to say,” he said.

Liverpool loanee Calvin Ramsay has overcome a minor hamstring issue which was picked up two days before the Derby County defeat and is expected to play a part in the run-in.

Evatt has also played down George Johnston’s chances of playing before the start of next season, despite the centre-half returning to full training.

He said: “George is back full-contact, full training again, which is great for him, but after nine or 10 months without any games to go back into this type of pressure situation is extremely difficult.

Asked if he would be given any chances in remaining B Team fixtures, the Wanderers boss added: “Again, it is risk and reward.

“We don’t want to take any risk with him and we think he is a valuable asset to us and we don’t want to risk any type of setback.

“Dan is similar, really, we will have the same decision to make. He is up to the four-month mark next week, which is the time we’d expected him to be out. He has some boxes left to tick but he is definitely at the late stage of rehab.”

Ramsay has featured just four times since his move from Anfield at the start of February but Evatt says he is now back up to speed.

“He had a hamstring strain,” he said. “Only low level but that has healed well and he has trained all week. It had happened on the Thursday before the Derby game and he wasn’t able to feature.”

Wanderers had five players away on international duty but should have a full quota back at Lostock tomorrow to make final preparations.

Evatt has been pleased with what he has seen over the break from the players who did stay behind and feels his side go to Stevenage in the right frame of mind.

“I don’t sense nerves, in fact I think our performances have improved,” he said. “I think we were outstanding against Derby and deserved a lot more, anyone who was there would admit the same thing.

“In football stuff happens and sometimes you don’t get what is warranted – but if we carry on playing like that I think we have a great chance to get promoted. That was our aim and we’ll give it our best shot.”