HOSTING a team of Aston Villa’s top kids at the start of an international break isn’t likely to get the pulses racing for most Bolton Wanderers supporters – but there are a few players who have had their eye on this game for some time.

Bolton lifted the Trophy in 2023, then sponsored by Papa Johns, and enjoyed all the attention that comes with winning a Wembley final.

And last season’s penalty shootout defeat at Blackpool in the quarter-final came with some degree of hurt, albeit there has been much debate since as to whether the club needed a heavier workload.

This time around, Ian Evatt has made it clear he wants to use the group stages to sharpen players he feels need more game time. His lot has been made more complicated, however, by the fact six of his first team squad are now away on international duty, making the task of adhering to EFL rules on team selection that little bit trickier.

Injuries also narrowed his options against Barrow in the opening group fixture, won by the odd goal in five at Holker Steet, but a handful players have now made their way back to fitness, and they will be the ones looking to impress against Villa’s youngsters.

Klaidi Lolos made an impressive start in this summer’s pre-season friendlies following his arrival from Crawley Town. The 24-year-old came on for his debut 15 minutes before the end of the 2-1 win against Leyton Orient on the opening day of the season but was levelled by a poor challenge by home defender Dan Happe and had to limp off the field before the final whistle.

Lolos had played behind the central striker in the 3-4-3 system Ian Evatt introduced in July, but during his enforced absence the formation was shifted back to 3-5-2. Two slots have now become one for the attack-minded midfielder, and Kyle Dempsey’s recent form suggests he pushed his way to the front of the queue.

It is a similar case for Carlos Mendes Gomes, albeit a much longer comeback from injury. The former Luton Town man had slowly started to show why Bolton paid £300,000 to bring him from Kenilworth Road, scoring important goals at Cambridge United and Northampton Town. But a serious Achillies tendon tear 20 minutes into a game at Wigan Athletic in February left him on the shelf for several months.

Gomes had made just three league starts for Bolton – but the game at the DW was his third in a row, suggesting he had discovered the niche in Evatt’s team that some had doubted.

He played alongside a number nine, in two cases Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, and in one, Victor Adeboyejo, and that could very well be where he is pitched against Villa.

Randell Williams has also been slowly integrated back into the first team since damaging his foot on the day before the play-off final in May.

The wing-back has started twice in the cup competitions this season but his last league starts were in the two-legged play-off wins against Barnsley back in May, a time where he looked to have pushed ahead of loan competition Nat Ogbeta.

The signing of Szabi Schön in the summer has put extra pressure on Williams as he returned from injury but the Hungarian’s international call-up means he should get a call from the start against Villa in one of the wider berths.

Should Evatt decide to use Williams on the right, and give Josh Dacres-Cogley a rare night off, then Sam Inwood has been waiting in the wings for the last few weeks, travelling with the first team for experience.

The academy defender replaced Williams in the 8-1 win against Manchester United’s kids last season and is well regarded by the Bolton coaching staff.

Luke Matheson has been called up in this competition before and could be employed on the right side of the defence. He was not registered in the EFL squad list but can play in this competition.

The former Rochdale and Wolves defender has been touted for a loan move but has thus far not been able to find a suitable club.

Wanderers' goalkeeping injuries could also mean an unexpected debut for Luke Hutchinson, who was recalled from a loan spell in the Northern Premier League with Marine before the weekend's 2-2 draw against Shrewsbury.

The youngster has experience of being around the first team and has been an unused substitute on a few occasions but with Nathan Baxter and Joel Coleman injured and Luke Southwood away with Northern Ireland, he could be drafted in for a surprise shot.