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Phil Parkinson will keep a watchful eye on new signing Jan Kirchhoff before deciding whether he can pitch him into tomorrow’s battle at Sheffield Wednesday.
The German midfielder caught the eye in the 1-1 draw at Reading on Tuesday night, which was not only his first start for Wanderers, but his first since damaging knee cartilage playing for Sunderland against Chelsea in December 2016.
The injury required an operation and a comeback attempt last April was aborted after Kirchhoff’s knee issues flared up again.
Parkinson knew he would have to manage the 27-year-old carefully when he agreed to hand him a short-term deal last month but has been pleased with the progress he has made so far.
“We’ve been pleased with Jan, he’s a good lad and gives us that something different in midfield,” he told The Bolton News. “He showed some real quality on the ball at times (at Reading) even though there were spells he was getting up to speed, because he hasn’t played much football.
“He’s a class player and we’ll have to protect him, to a certain degree.”
Josh Vela and Jem Karacan are on standby if Parkinson decides two games in four days is beyond Kirchhoff’s reach.
Karacan came off the bench at Reading, replacing Kirchhoff, and did his chances of a start at Hillsborough no harm at all with his performance.
“I thought Karacan came on and did really well,” Parkinson said. “I have to give him a special mention because he didn’t have his best game Saturday against Preston, he knows that, but prior to it he was excellent against Norwich and Sunderland.
“He was unlucky not to keep his place and it was tough telling him that coming back to his hometown club but when he came on I think he was very, very good.”
After a wholesale change in formation and personnel at the Madesjki, Parkinson was giving little away about how he would approach another important game at the bottom end of the Championship.
Wanderers have generally struggled on their travels this season but there have been signs of encouragement in their last two away games at Norwich and Reading using two very different tactical systems.
Parkinson did not indicate whether he would stick with a back four, or move back to 3-5-2, but is looking for the same application from his team.
“Every team has to work hard, it doesn’t matter about the system,” he said.
“We’ll have a think of how best to tackle the Sheffield Wednesday game, and I will talk to the staff as I usually do, check on the fitness of some of the lads.
“If we’re talking style of play then I think the better teams mix it up. If you look at Wolves, for instance, they can go long, on the diagonal, in behind, they can drop off and break.
“But if the effort isn’t there, you can go on about systems all you like. It just won’t work.”
Wednesday boss Jos Luhukay has confirmed Daniel Pudil, Fred Venancio and Sean Clare are available for selection against Wanderers but that the Owls will still be without 10-goal top scorer Gary Hooper, who is recovering from an ankle injury.
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The German midfielder caught the eye in the 1-1 draw at Reading on Tuesday night, which was not only his first start for Wanderers, but his first since damaging knee cartilage playing for Sunderland against Chelsea in December 2016.
The injury required an operation and a comeback attempt last April was aborted after Kirchhoff’s knee issues flared up again.
Parkinson knew he would have to manage the 27-year-old carefully when he agreed to hand him a short-term deal last month but has been pleased with the progress he has made so far.
“We’ve been pleased with Jan, he’s a good lad and gives us that something different in midfield,” he told The Bolton News. “He showed some real quality on the ball at times (at Reading) even though there were spells he was getting up to speed, because he hasn’t played much football.
“He’s a class player and we’ll have to protect him, to a certain degree.”
Josh Vela and Jem Karacan are on standby if Parkinson decides two games in four days is beyond Kirchhoff’s reach.
Karacan came off the bench at Reading, replacing Kirchhoff, and did his chances of a start at Hillsborough no harm at all with his performance.
“I thought Karacan came on and did really well,” Parkinson said. “I have to give him a special mention because he didn’t have his best game Saturday against Preston, he knows that, but prior to it he was excellent against Norwich and Sunderland.
“He was unlucky not to keep his place and it was tough telling him that coming back to his hometown club but when he came on I think he was very, very good.”
After a wholesale change in formation and personnel at the Madesjki, Parkinson was giving little away about how he would approach another important game at the bottom end of the Championship.
Wanderers have generally struggled on their travels this season but there have been signs of encouragement in their last two away games at Norwich and Reading using two very different tactical systems.
Parkinson did not indicate whether he would stick with a back four, or move back to 3-5-2, but is looking for the same application from his team.
“Every team has to work hard, it doesn’t matter about the system,” he said.
“We’ll have a think of how best to tackle the Sheffield Wednesday game, and I will talk to the staff as I usually do, check on the fitness of some of the lads.
“If we’re talking style of play then I think the better teams mix it up. If you look at Wolves, for instance, they can go long, on the diagonal, in behind, they can drop off and break.
“But if the effort isn’t there, you can go on about systems all you like. It just won’t work.”
Wednesday boss Jos Luhukay has confirmed Daniel Pudil, Fred Venancio and Sean Clare are available for selection against Wanderers but that the Owls will still be without 10-goal top scorer Gary Hooper, who is recovering from an ankle injury.
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