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Ian Evatt has confirmed that Kyle Dempsey is back in contention for Saturday’s clash Exeter – but Gethin Jones will miss out.
Dempsey has been sidelined since the 3-2 win against Barrow in the Papa Johns Trophy after suffering an ankle ligament tear.
The midfielder has had a series of bad injury luck since his move from Gillingham nearly a year ago and has struggled to get a consistent run of games under his belt for the Whites.
“Kyle is back available,” said Evatt. “He has only trained today and we were only on the 3G (pitch) because of the weather, so we have not been able to get a great deal of work into them for him to start the match, but he will certainly be involved.
“Hopefully, we can get him some minutes to get him back to speed as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Jones was forced off during the 4-0 win against Manchester United Under-21s on Tuesday night.
Evatt says the defender will miss Saturday’s game but is hopeful that he won’t be out of action for long.
“He had a scan yesterday,” the manager added. “He has a grade two tear on his peroneal, which basically forms part of the glute.
“They are not long ones, so probably two to three weeks, but enough to keep him out.
“They settle quite quickly and we will be hopeful that it does settle quicker than that two or three weeks, but he will miss Saturday.”
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson is also on track to be back before the end of the month after having an operation to repair his broken nose.
“Jon’s operation went really well,” said Evatt. “The scenario is the same, it will be two weeks. We have to allow the bone to set before he can engage in physical contact again.
“Whether he has to wear a mask when he returns, we are unsure at the moment. But he will probably be back for the 27th (against Derby).”
Wanderers were without a plethora of players at Shrewsbury last weekend due to a wave off illness, but the Bolton boss is optimistic the worst is behind them.
“We have had a rough time with injuries and illness, but the illnesses seem to be all getting better now,” he added.
“Hopefully, the spread that was going through has stopped. We have not had any new cases the last week or so, which is a positive sign.
“The ones who returned on Tuesday I thought were excellent, Aaron Morley in particular. Kieran Sadlier’s data considering he has had Covid-19 was excellent as well.”
Evatt also shared an update on George Thomason, who is facing a spell on the sidelines after discloating his knee and tearing a ligament.
He said: “Hopefully we will get him back by March time. The business end of the season, that will be a huge lift for him and for us to have him back.”
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