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Wanderers could be forced into the emergency loan market after Remi Matthews picked up an ankle injury in the goalless draw with AFC Wimbledon.
Keith Hill will weigh up his options as he prepares a squad to face Burton Albion tomorrow night – his hand weakened by the fact Jason Lowe and Daryl Murphy have also joined the list of absentees.
The 17-year-old academy product Matthew Alexander has provided back up to Matthews for most of the season, making his debut against Coventry City back in August.
Wanderers refused to sign a senior back-up after releasing Ben Alnwick in December knowing they could potentially utilise an EFL rule which allows club to sign a goalkeeper for seven days outside the transfer window.
Hill will get a final opinion on Matthews today from his medical staff but said at the weekend: “Potentially we could take an emergency loan goalkeeper in. That is an option for us.
“But I have no fear of playing Matty Alexander. He is an excellent young goalkeeper and I’d be more than willing to play him if needs be.
“I support him and I am sure he would support me with his performance. I trust these young players and I don’t have a problem playing them when the time is right.”
Wanderers will also have to do without captain Lowe, who suffered a hamstring injury, and potentially striker Murphy, who hurt his Achilles in Saturday’s draw.
Injuries biting hard into his shallow squad, Bolton have now put back-to-back clean sheets together for the first time in Hill’s time as manager.
They remain on a run of one win in 15 but the Whites boss believes the current run is a test of faith for all involved at the club.
“It is testing but life is here to test you in strange ways,” he said.
“Football is testing at this moment in time but you have to stick to your principles. You need people in and around you to be brave – players, staff, everybody connected with the club – to stick to the principles of how they want to carry this club forward.
“It is hard, there is criticism, there is frustration – but it will all soon evaporate.”
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Keith Hill will weigh up his options as he prepares a squad to face Burton Albion tomorrow night – his hand weakened by the fact Jason Lowe and Daryl Murphy have also joined the list of absentees.
The 17-year-old academy product Matthew Alexander has provided back up to Matthews for most of the season, making his debut against Coventry City back in August.
Wanderers refused to sign a senior back-up after releasing Ben Alnwick in December knowing they could potentially utilise an EFL rule which allows club to sign a goalkeeper for seven days outside the transfer window.
Hill will get a final opinion on Matthews today from his medical staff but said at the weekend: “Potentially we could take an emergency loan goalkeeper in. That is an option for us.
“But I have no fear of playing Matty Alexander. He is an excellent young goalkeeper and I’d be more than willing to play him if needs be.
“I support him and I am sure he would support me with his performance. I trust these young players and I don’t have a problem playing them when the time is right.”
Wanderers will also have to do without captain Lowe, who suffered a hamstring injury, and potentially striker Murphy, who hurt his Achilles in Saturday’s draw.
Injuries biting hard into his shallow squad, Bolton have now put back-to-back clean sheets together for the first time in Hill’s time as manager.
They remain on a run of one win in 15 but the Whites boss believes the current run is a test of faith for all involved at the club.
“It is testing but life is here to test you in strange ways,” he said.
“Football is testing at this moment in time but you have to stick to your principles. You need people in and around you to be brave – players, staff, everybody connected with the club – to stick to the principles of how they want to carry this club forward.
“It is hard, there is criticism, there is frustration – but it will all soon evaporate.”
Source