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Wanderers could have Amadou Bakayoko back in the squad for this weekend’s FA Cup first round clash with Stockport County.
The former Coventry striker has missed the last three games with an ankle injury but could feature in Ian Evatt’s thinking at the UniBol.
The injury list has started to clear up for Bolton after a difficult October and though a couple of minor issues lingered after Tuesday’s Papa John’s Trophy win at Rochdale, the Bolton boss was upbeat about his selections at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
“I think it’s all good news, really,” he said. “There isn’t a great deal going on.
“Baka joined in today and is okay, Amaechi joined in fully for the first time and he’s okay.
“Harry Brockbank has a bit of a tight calf but there is nothing major there and Josh Sheehan has a sore back after Tuesday but there is nothing major. He didn’t train but it is just precaution.”
Wanderers start as favourites but with Stockport buoyed by a new managerial appointment in Dave Challinor, fresh player investment and a 5,000-strong travelling contingent of supporters, Evatt is well aware his side cannot just go through the motions.
“It has to be full tilt,” he said. “There is no other approach, we just need to build on Tuesday night at Rochdale.
“Cup matches are important to us financially and we have got some good home games coming up, so we want to make hay, really, after what was a difficult October.
“We have to focus now on having a good November.”
Among the new arrivals at Stockport is Antoni Sarcevic, who made the shock move to Edgeley Park a fortnight ago after featuring in all 14 of Bolton’s opening games in League One.
Rumours of a spat between the manager and player have refused to die down but Evatt remains respectful of the job his former midfielder did in his 18 months at the UniBol.
“Antoni was a very good player for this football club,” he said. “He had a big part to play in our promotion and in the solid start we made to League One but people move clubs all the time and we wish him well. It’s the way football is that you end up playing him so soon afterwards. But it is a big game, no doubt about it. Stockport are a big club, spending a lot of money for the level they are at and have some good players, so we have to be at the top of our game to get a result.”
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