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Wanderers defender Gethin Jones will see a specialist on Wednesday and is hopeful for a shorter recovery time.
The Welshman hasn’t featured for the Whites since their 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday last month after suffering a stress fracture in his fibula.
Jones says he is now pain-free and admits being forced to watch from the sidelines is difficult.
“It’s frustrating to be honest,” said the defender. “The first 10 days to two weeks, I was in a bit of pain. Obviously, I was in the (protective) boot.
“But as soon as I came out of the boot, I’ve been pain free. But that’s the frustrating part because I feel like I could go out there and run now, but you’ve got to listen to the specialist.
“I’ve got another specialist (appointment) on Wednesday, so another second opinion. I’m now four weeks in and I’m two weeks away from light jogging on the Alter G treadmill machine.
“So we’re going to see hopefully if I get the all clear on Wednesday, to maybe progress it a bit earlier than that.”
While he is unable to step out onto the pitch, Jones insists it is important to still be involved with the squad on matchdays.
“It’s been hard to watch because I hate not being out there with the lads,” he added. “I hate being in the gym every day even though it’s got to be done.
“I try to get to as many games as I can to still be involved in the changing rooms with the lads and give my part off the pitch.
“It’s good to see where we need to work on as a team, and that will come. We had a very good start and it’s been a difficult month for us, but if we keep working hard as a team like we did last season, we’ll get there.”
Wanderers boss Ian Evatt admits it is a frustrating injury but says rushing Jones back could prove costly in the long run.
“It is really tough because it is such a rare injury,” said the Bolton boss. “To have a stress fracture of the fibula is not something a footballer often gets, it is more of an athletics injury than anything else.
“Runners that are constantly plodding on concrete, having that constant load, it is not a weight-bearing bone so it is an odd injury.
“He has not got any pain and feels like he is perfectly fine but it is the risk and reward factor. He could come back and it could get worse, or re-fracture the bone.”
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