Bolton Wanderers on free agent chase and Luke Matheson loan

Attempts to sign ex-Leeds United defender Liam Cooper last month were thwarted when the 33-year-old opted to join Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia.

The centre-back, who played alongside Evatt at Chesterfield early in his career, had been close to making a surprise switch to Bolton, but ended up joining the 31-time champions in the hope he could help them back into European competition.

Liam Cooper (centre) before the 2024 Championship play-off final (Image: PA)

Evatt had left one place open in his squad and checked out other options in the free agent market in the previous international break but is now looking to the next transfer window.

“We are certainly not going to rush into anything,” he said of the possibility of adding to his squad before January. “We lost out on the one we wanted to do and had the option of including Luke Matheson if the numbers dwindled. For now, I am just monitoring things, really, and maybe keeping a bit of powder dry for January.

“It is important that we are ready for the next window and prepared for what might become available there.”

Matheson made his first Bolton start of the season in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy against Aston Villa’s Under-21s last week, having also played as a substitute in the opening group game at Barrow.

He had spent a few months on loan with Irish side Bohemians earlier this year, making 10 appearances, and had been ear-marked for another loan prior to last month’s deadline.

Evatt is at a loss to explain why a suitable move has not been found for the 22-year-old wing-back, who has been a regular at B Team level.

He said: “We are trying to find him something appropriate – and I am absolutely baffled that clubs are not snapping my hand off to take him because I think he’s a really good young player, he has got a fantastic attitude. He can add a lot to a lot of teams.

“It has been really surprising to me that we have not had a lot more interest in him.

“I would say that anything we do, or would have done, has to be right for us and for Luke, because we think a lot of him.

“When he has played for us he has played well and never let us down. Do I think he is where we need him to be right now? No. But do I think he will get there? Absolutely I think he will.

“He is a big part of he future of this club, so hopefully we can get him a good loan where he can go out, get some confidence and some playing time and then come back to push to get in our team.”

Meanwhile, there was frustration for Wanderers pair Eoin Toal and Dion Charles as Northern Ireland drew 0-0 with Belarus in the Nations League. Luke Southwood was also an unused substitute.

On Friday, Szabi Schon was on the bench for Hungary’s 1-1 draw against the Netherlands and Josh Sheehan also watched on as Wales drew 2-2 in Iceland.