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Wanderers face a tactical re-think at Crewe today as Ian Evatt decides whether to stick with the wing-back policy in the light of Marlon Fossey’s absence.
With Gethin Jones on compassionate leave until the start of next week and Fossey seeing his season ended prematurely by a knee injury, the Bolton boss admits he has a big decision to make at the Mornflake Stadium.
“Kieran Sadlier can play in multiple positions, he could slip in at wing-back or we could change shape,” he reasoned. “We changed shape second half against Plymouth, and it had a really good effect, so we’ve got lots of options. We will see what we do.”
Wanderers could draft Will Aimson or Adam Senior in at right back, or potentially bring Alex Baptiste in for his first start since December, if he decides to move to a regulation back four.
The switch worked well against Plymouth but was achieved with the services of Fossey, who will have surgery on a torn meniscus today.
Evatt maintains that he has the flexibility in his squad to cope with the absences – and with Lloyd Isgrove now back in full training he will soon have another wing-back option.
Isgrove had been one of the bright lights of the first half of the season until he tore his hamstring playing against Doncaster Rovers in late November.
Evatt – who also has midfielder Kyle Dempsey back in contention this weekend – says he is pleased with the different formation alternatives he has available in the squad.
“It is a really good weapon,” he said of moving from a back three to a back four against Plymouth. “We can even flip between the two formations in-game without me having to fundamentally change the way we build.
“We can build with four, we can build with three, we can stick three on the last line and move and rotate.
“We have some real good options. And that is the next stage of our development.
“We have lots of work to do and I’m already looking forward to pre-season. I know what we need to do, it’s just going to take time to get us there.
“It is really exciting. We have some really, really good players and I am pleased with where we’re at.”
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