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Zach Clough might be rushed back quicker than expected to try and lift Wanderers in their must-win game at Charlton Athletic tonight.
The 20-year-old has been out of action since dislocating his shoulder in September – his second long-term injury in the last eight months – and has not even had time to test his fitness in the development squad.
But such is the Whites’ need for a boost, Clough was on board the team coach heading for the capital yesterday with Neil Lennon hoping his mere presence could be enough to lift his side out of their current funk.
“He’s a quality player and he’s frustrated he’s lost a lot of time to both injuries,” he told The Bolton News.
“But he’s worked very hard. It might be too early for him – we’ll have to assess that with the medical team.
“I can’t say for sure he’ll start, I can’t say for certain he’ll be in the squad, but we’ll look at how his condition and state of mind is like.
“But Zach coming back is a huge boost for us and we certainly need one at the moment.”
Since exploding on to the scene at the start of the year with six goals in 10 appearances Clough has found it tougher going in the Championship.
He has scored once in his eight outings this season before requiring shoulder surgery in September after a heavy fall against Sheffield Wednesday.
He has also signed a new contract during his time on the sidelines, given to him by Wanderers to protect an asset that now looks twice as valuable, given the current financial situation.
Clough has reiterated his desire to stay at Wanderers but could realistically be one of the players the club is forced to cash in on should administration hit.
Lennon is confident, however, that in reintroducing him to the team he is getting a player fully committed to the cause.
“We put him on a new contract last season, and again the club came forward and gave him a new one this season as well,” he said.
“It shows what we think of him. I think he’s happy here, in the main, even though this is not a good situation for him to be coming back into.
“He has an affinity to the club and feels that maybe he owes the club something himself and wants to contribute towards that.”
Josh Vela has also been passed fit to play after falling awkwardly against Hull City on Saturday and damaging his arm.
What was feared could be a fracture has turned out to be a deep bruise and the academy graduate should once again feature on the right side of midfield.
Gary Madine has shaken off the illness that forced him to sit out at the KC Stadium while Darren Pratley has also shown no ill-effects of the concussion that forced him off the pitch.
As expected, Shola Ameobi is almost certainly out of the Charlton game because of a groin strain.
Lennon is well aware of the significance the next two games could have on Wanderers’ season and feels that nothing less than two wins will be enough.
“We need to win these games, draws aren’t enough at the moment,” he said. “First thing is first, I think they are capable of winning against Charlton and we’ve got to try and drum that into them.
“There was nothing in the game on Saturday against Hull and they are going quite well at the top of the league. We weren’t great in possession, especially around the midfield area, but the players are better than that.
“Regardless of what is going on elsewhere we have to focus on winning games and this is a huge game in the context of where we are.
“We’re looking a little bit stronger in attacking terms and that has been what we’ve been lacking in the last few weeks.
“I’ve said we have to treat the game like a cup tie, forget about whatever else is going on and put in a performance.”
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The 20-year-old has been out of action since dislocating his shoulder in September – his second long-term injury in the last eight months – and has not even had time to test his fitness in the development squad.
But such is the Whites’ need for a boost, Clough was on board the team coach heading for the capital yesterday with Neil Lennon hoping his mere presence could be enough to lift his side out of their current funk.
“He’s a quality player and he’s frustrated he’s lost a lot of time to both injuries,” he told The Bolton News.
“But he’s worked very hard. It might be too early for him – we’ll have to assess that with the medical team.
“I can’t say for sure he’ll start, I can’t say for certain he’ll be in the squad, but we’ll look at how his condition and state of mind is like.
“But Zach coming back is a huge boost for us and we certainly need one at the moment.”
Since exploding on to the scene at the start of the year with six goals in 10 appearances Clough has found it tougher going in the Championship.
He has scored once in his eight outings this season before requiring shoulder surgery in September after a heavy fall against Sheffield Wednesday.
He has also signed a new contract during his time on the sidelines, given to him by Wanderers to protect an asset that now looks twice as valuable, given the current financial situation.
Clough has reiterated his desire to stay at Wanderers but could realistically be one of the players the club is forced to cash in on should administration hit.
Lennon is confident, however, that in reintroducing him to the team he is getting a player fully committed to the cause.
“We put him on a new contract last season, and again the club came forward and gave him a new one this season as well,” he said.
“It shows what we think of him. I think he’s happy here, in the main, even though this is not a good situation for him to be coming back into.
“He has an affinity to the club and feels that maybe he owes the club something himself and wants to contribute towards that.”
Josh Vela has also been passed fit to play after falling awkwardly against Hull City on Saturday and damaging his arm.
What was feared could be a fracture has turned out to be a deep bruise and the academy graduate should once again feature on the right side of midfield.
Gary Madine has shaken off the illness that forced him to sit out at the KC Stadium while Darren Pratley has also shown no ill-effects of the concussion that forced him off the pitch.
As expected, Shola Ameobi is almost certainly out of the Charlton game because of a groin strain.
Lennon is well aware of the significance the next two games could have on Wanderers’ season and feels that nothing less than two wins will be enough.
“We need to win these games, draws aren’t enough at the moment,” he said. “First thing is first, I think they are capable of winning against Charlton and we’ve got to try and drum that into them.
“There was nothing in the game on Saturday against Hull and they are going quite well at the top of the league. We weren’t great in possession, especially around the midfield area, but the players are better than that.
“Regardless of what is going on elsewhere we have to focus on winning games and this is a huge game in the context of where we are.
“We’re looking a little bit stronger in attacking terms and that has been what we’ve been lacking in the last few weeks.
“I’ve said we have to treat the game like a cup tie, forget about whatever else is going on and put in a performance.”
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