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Ian Evatt is preparing to disappoint some of his Wembley-bound Wanderers by telling them they will not be in his team for the Papa Johns Trophy final.
Dion Charles, Conor Bradley and Eoin Toal returned from international duty yesterday and did a recovery session, and both James Trafford and Luke Mbete are due back in the camp on Thursday after playing for England Under-21s and Under-20s, respectively.
Jack Iredale and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson are ruled out, and Lloyd Isgrove is unlikely to be available for the game after picking up a minor injury, but Evatt otherwise has a plan in mind for Plymouth which he will put into action over the next few days.
“I have a team in mind but obviously things can change through the week,” he said. “We will have a look in our preparations for what we do against a Plymouth team we know pretty well.
“Our options are slightly limited with the cup-tied players but whoever we put out there will do the club proud and do it justice, and they will be good enough to win that match.”
The Bolton boss admits telling players they will not be involved at Wembley is not his favourite part of the job.
“It is tough and sometimes I do take it personally because I think the world of all the players and I don’t want to upset anyone,” he said. “But provided it is done respectfully and honestly we have to have those conversations and people will understand my reasoning provided I’m honest and upfront about it.
"They may not like it but they will certainly respect it, and there are eight games after this where we will definitely need them all.
“There will be disappointment but that is the industry we are in.”
Wanderers won a practice match 3-1 at the end of last week, having fought for an impressive draw at Sheffield Wednesday the previous Friday.
Evatt says the mood around the camp has been a positive one over the extended break but win or lose in the final, the players will not be allowed to lose focus on the remainder of the season, which continues at Exeter City on Good Friday.
“I really feel there has been a significant lift in energy levels and in quality over the last couple of weeks and I really feel we can give ourselves a good opportunity to win at Wembley by playing well, first and foremost, and then that will stand us in good stead over the last eight league games,” he said.
“We haven’t got a chance to take a backwards step or have a day off, mentally or physically, there is a lot of work to be done.
“We will enjoy this week and the build up because it is not every week you get to go to Wembley cup finals but for all the spectacle, it is still a match we need to go and win.
“I can tick it off my bucket list as a young manager but it is the best place to win and the worst place to lose, so fingers crossed we can get the job done, enjoy it Sunday night, and then get ready for Exeter on the Friday.”
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