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Amadou Bakayoko is on course to make his return from injury for Wanderers against Wycombe this weekend.
The striker has been out of commission for the last six games after tearing his hamstring in the FA Cup exit at Stockport County last month.
He has now returned to training and could be considered to start only his eighth game of the season against one of League One’s most physical sides.
Bakayoko has struggled for fitness since signing on a free transfer in the summer, breaking down after his longest run of six consecutive appearances in October.
Ian Evatt has confirmed that the striker is now back training with the first team and in his thoughts for Saturday’s game, where Wanderers seek to avoid a third straight league defeat for only the second time in 2021.
The Bolton boss has also revealed that two more of his long-term absentees could be back in action this side of the New Year.
Gethin Jones has made steady progress after a fracture was discovered in his fibula in early October and has stepped up his training load over the last seven days.
“Gethin has had no adverse reactions, so he’s coming back soon,” Evatt said.
“Andrew Tutte has been making really good progress, so he will be back as well.
“Players are coming. You can see them in the background, the cavalry is coming over the hill, but for now we’re still climbing up that hill and taking some heat in the process but we’ll be fine.”
Speaking at the end of last week, Evatt said he had been encouraged by Jones’s return to light training and intended to increase the workload this week in the build-up to Wycombe.
Doctors had initially thought he would be out of action until January but the defender has reacted well and could be back much sooner than expected.
“It’s a strange one with Gethin because it has been just trial and error really,” Evatt explained. “We are progressing him to see if there is any adverse reaction. I think he did some running last week. He was a little bit sore afterwards but that seems to have settled quite quickly and now he’ll progress onto pitch running.
“Pitch running doesn’t necessarily mean a return to play in trainers the week after – it’s going to take time so we don’t really want to label it at the minute.
“We have to be patient and see, but obviously Gethin is a fantastic player for us and a big, big miss. The sooner we can get him back, the better.”
Without Jones, Wanderers have won six of 17 games in league and cup this season.
With the right-back in the side, they have won five, drawn four and lost four of 13 games in all competitions.
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