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Practicality seems to be the order of the day at Wanderers as Phil Parkinson considers his team to face Bristol City in the FA Cup.
With a Championship game at home to relegation rivals Reading on Tuesday, the Bolton boss has already warned those travelling to Ashton Gate that he will be making changes.
A place in the fifth round is up for grabs – and Wanderers haven’t reached that stage of the competition since 2012, when they lost against Tottenham in the aftermath of Fabrice Muamba’s emotional collapse and recovery.
But Parkinson is well aware that Reading have a free weekend, and that could mean opportunity could knock for players who have been out of the reckoning.
Here are eight players we think could get an opportunity.
JOSH VELA – New dad, hopefully a new start for the midfielder who has had a tenuous grip on first team football for the last six months. Would have started on Monday night against West Brom but for a hospital excursion and provided there haven’t been too many sleepless nights, should add some dynamism to the middle of the park which lacked the last time the two sides met.
MARK LITTLE – Two starts all season for the wing-back, whose fall from grace has been met with some degree of puzzlement among Wanderers supporters. A former Bristol City player, his lack of football even at development squad level would make an appearance at Ashton Gate rather a surprise.
REMI MATTHEWS – Now that his move from Norwich City has been rubber-stamped this should be the ideal sort of occasion to give the 24-year-old stopper some first team football and allow Ben Alnwick to take the night off. Matthews impressed earlier this season and given the uncertainty of his future earlier in the month, could probably use a chance to play.
ERHUN OZTUMER – This season has not gone according to plan for the little play-maker and should he get a chance to play at Bristol City it would take his number of starts since his free transfer move from Walsall into double figures. Wanderers can hardly afford to lose players in the window – but Oztumer must wonder whether loan football is on the cards at this stage.
LLOYD DYER – We now know the experienced winger will be staying with Wanderers until the end of the season, and this kind of occasion would be perfect to get him game time.
Dyer hasn’t shone as a wing-back when Wanderers have experimented with a back three but a move to his more natural attacking position may give Parkinson the chance to offer Will Buckley or Sammy Ameobi the night off.
CONNOR HALL – The young striker had one cup outing in August at Leeds United before moving out to Accrington on loan. The total lack of strikers at Parkinson’s disposal means Hall will be going nowhere else until he signs a replacement, so it would be just reward if he got a start in the FA Cup.
LUCA CONNELL – The shaggy-haired academy graduate has impressed mightily at Under-18s and 23s level and looks to be one of the brightest talents on Wanderers’ books right now. Already given a taste of the first team against Walsall in the third round, this would be an ideal opportunity to give him a good run.
JOE PRITCHARD – Spent 15 years at Tottenham but snapped up by Bolton after his release last season and instantly became an important member of David Lee’s Under-23s side. At 22, he needs to push on, but the signs are good. Parkinson has fast-tracked him since the turn of the year and it looks as if the Watford-born midfielder could make a dent on the senior side this season.
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With a Championship game at home to relegation rivals Reading on Tuesday, the Bolton boss has already warned those travelling to Ashton Gate that he will be making changes.
A place in the fifth round is up for grabs – and Wanderers haven’t reached that stage of the competition since 2012, when they lost against Tottenham in the aftermath of Fabrice Muamba’s emotional collapse and recovery.
But Parkinson is well aware that Reading have a free weekend, and that could mean opportunity could knock for players who have been out of the reckoning.
Here are eight players we think could get an opportunity.
JOSH VELA – New dad, hopefully a new start for the midfielder who has had a tenuous grip on first team football for the last six months. Would have started on Monday night against West Brom but for a hospital excursion and provided there haven’t been too many sleepless nights, should add some dynamism to the middle of the park which lacked the last time the two sides met.
MARK LITTLE – Two starts all season for the wing-back, whose fall from grace has been met with some degree of puzzlement among Wanderers supporters. A former Bristol City player, his lack of football even at development squad level would make an appearance at Ashton Gate rather a surprise.
REMI MATTHEWS – Now that his move from Norwich City has been rubber-stamped this should be the ideal sort of occasion to give the 24-year-old stopper some first team football and allow Ben Alnwick to take the night off. Matthews impressed earlier this season and given the uncertainty of his future earlier in the month, could probably use a chance to play.
ERHUN OZTUMER – This season has not gone according to plan for the little play-maker and should he get a chance to play at Bristol City it would take his number of starts since his free transfer move from Walsall into double figures. Wanderers can hardly afford to lose players in the window – but Oztumer must wonder whether loan football is on the cards at this stage.
LLOYD DYER – We now know the experienced winger will be staying with Wanderers until the end of the season, and this kind of occasion would be perfect to get him game time.
Dyer hasn’t shone as a wing-back when Wanderers have experimented with a back three but a move to his more natural attacking position may give Parkinson the chance to offer Will Buckley or Sammy Ameobi the night off.
CONNOR HALL – The young striker had one cup outing in August at Leeds United before moving out to Accrington on loan. The total lack of strikers at Parkinson’s disposal means Hall will be going nowhere else until he signs a replacement, so it would be just reward if he got a start in the FA Cup.
LUCA CONNELL – The shaggy-haired academy graduate has impressed mightily at Under-18s and 23s level and looks to be one of the brightest talents on Wanderers’ books right now. Already given a taste of the first team against Walsall in the third round, this would be an ideal opportunity to give him a good run.
JOE PRITCHARD – Spent 15 years at Tottenham but snapped up by Bolton after his release last season and instantly became an important member of David Lee’s Under-23s side. At 22, he needs to push on, but the signs are good. Parkinson has fast-tracked him since the turn of the year and it looks as if the Watford-born midfielder could make a dent on the senior side this season.
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