WANDERERS could give Dion Charles his first pre-season appearance of the summer in tonight’s home friendly against Stoke City.

The Northern Ireland international has been out of commission since the end of last season with a knee problem but was last week given the all-clear for a return to the training ground.

Charles struggled with the medial ligament issue for the last few months of last season but has now been told he can return to Lostock, and could feature from the bench against the Potters.

Goalkeeper Luke Southwood could also feature for a spell, having returned to training after a broken fibula sustained on the final day of last season playing for Cheltenham Town.

Wanderers continue to monitor Kyle Dempsey’s knee injury but Gethin Jones will require a reasonable length of time on the side-lines as he prepares for surgery on a knee problem.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Fiorentina on Friday evening, the Bolton boss said: “Obviously we are light on numbers, and we are working hard to bring recruits in, and get people back fit again.

“But they are getting there – Dion Charles is back full training now and should be involved on Tuesday against Stoke City, Chris Forino will be back next week as well, so the bodies are returning.”

Wanderers remain hopeful that minor injuries sustained by Ricardo Santos and Aaron Collins will not stop them featuring against Stoke, but Evatt took some solace from the performance against a strong Fiorentina side on Friday.

“They were in the Conference League final, so these are a top European team,” Evatt told the club. “Everyone uses the word belief in football and belief has to be earned.

“You earn belief by performing like that, so we'll take some belief and credit from that, but we know there's a lot of work to do.

“As a spectator I really enjoyed the game and as a coach to go against that quality is fantastic and I was really pleased with the way the players stood up.

“There's progression there I can see it. We know we are light and need some bodies in but we are dining at a different table now and we have to be patient and make sure we get the right ones at the right price. Players are returning from injury, so all in all, I'm satisfied with where we’re at.”