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Ian Evatt says Wanderers’ transfer policy in January will not be compromised by the recent spate of injuries.
Despite being hit with a run of long-term absentees in November and December, the Bolton boss is confident that enough groundwork has been done to enable the club to make considered choices when the January window reopens.
The loss of players like Josh Sheehan and Amadou Bakayoko, coupled with the decision to allow Antoni Sarcevic to join Stockport County has left the Whites short-handed in a six-game run to New Year’s Day.
Evatt had only 12 fit outfield players for their last League One game against Cheltenham Town and has also lost the services of Gethin Jones, MJ Williams, Lloyd Isgrove, Harry Brockbank and Andy Tutte.
But while the short-term situation is a challenging one for Wanderers until the winter window reopens, Evatt is confident that enough groundwork has been done by the club’s recruitment staff to prevent the need for ‘panic buying’ next month.
“The good thing about the club right now is that we don’t need to be rushed into anything,” Evatt told The Bolton News. “We will do our due diligence to make sure we limit the risk and do things the right way.
“There are lots of positive conversations going on behind the scenes, there has been a lot of work done already, looking at different options.
“Chris (Markham) is a huge help to me on that. He has put in a lot of hours building reports, our recruitment analysis have put in a lot of hard work as well.
“The best thing is that we have an identity to recruit towards. We are not going to recruit players on a whim, regardless of what injuries we may or may not have.
“We have a system – and there is fluidity within that, if we want to play a four or a three at the back – but a Bolton player looks ‘this way’ and they need to be good at ‘this’.
Wanderers have been linked with strikers Dion Charles and Cole Stockton in recent weeks but have played down their interest.
Evatt has admitted, however, that the club will be active in the January market and will be looking to make signings which will make the same sort of positive impact as they did the previous year.
The Bolton boss is also confident he will be given the financial backing by Wanderers’ owners to make the necessary additions to his squad.
“People can link us with players, and I am sure they will do, but we know the hard work has been done now and we’re now down to those final conversations, maybe the more difficult ones,” he said.
“But I’ll say again, the board has been fantastic with me and backed me whenever I have gone to them and said I needed X, Y or Z.”
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