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Ian Evatt hopes he has left just enough in Wanderers’ tank to handle a long trip to Portsmouth on Tuesday night.
The Bolton boss is planning changes at Fratton Park, having kept the likes of Gethin Jones, Kieran Lee, Declan John, Elias Kachunga and Dion Charles out of his starting line-up against Port Vale.
An official head count will be done today at Lostock before the team travel south for their final game of a busy February, in which they have already played six times in all competitions.
“We have managed to keep one or two fresh for Tuesday and it will be another difficult game but it is all about how much we can recover, mentally and physically,” Evatt said after the 2-1 win against Vale. “We have to go again.
“As I have said, it may not be pretty for the next couple of games but it is all about the result for us at the moment.”
Southampton loanee Dan Nlundulu made his first appearance since January 21 in the Port Vale game, coming off the bench to replace the injured Victor Adeboyejo.
“He was blowing when he came off because he has only had a couple of days in training and the intensity we play at, especially in that game, it is hard to get your second wind as a substitute,” Evatt added. “It is great to have him back in one piece and the bodies are returning all the time now, which is fantastic.”
Adeboyejo was optimistic he would be fit to face Pompey, having taken a bang on his knee in the second half at the University of Bolton Stadium.
The game – Evatt’s 150th in charge at Bolton – proved a scrappy affair but the manager admitted its frantic nature suited a few of his players.
“Both Kyle (Demspey) and Conor (Bradley), that is their type of game. They are so energetic and that suits them. They were both excellent.
“James (Trafford) pulled off one or two really good saves when we needed them. And as a team we have somehow managed to find that was to win. I can’t really tell you how but we managed it.”
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