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Eoin Toal is working his way back to full fitness with Wanderers after overcoming his troublesome ankle problem.
The Northern Irish defender has not taken part in any of the club’s pre-season friendlies after treatment on a long-standing ankle injury which had flared up on international duty in June.
Ian Evatt has confirmed that Toal will not be available in the short-term but is now working hard to catch-up with his team-mates.
“He has obviously missed the whole of pre-season so he is really in the physical mode at the moment, getting himself fit, ready and robust to play football again,” the manager said. “The ankle has settled, it is fine and there are no issues with that anymore. It is now about getting him ready to be back with us and match fit.”
Toal was last season’s breakthrough star making 31 appearances in all competitions and scoring three times after a move from Derry City.
His form earned the centre-back a first international call-up but his debut had to be put on hold because of an injury he sustained at Wembley in the Papa Johns Trophy final against Plymouth Argyle back in April.
Evatt will have Ricardo Santos, Gethin Jones, Will Forrester and Dan Ashworth available as central defensive options for this weekend’s season opener against Lincoln City but Jack Iredale remains a doubt with a minor groin injury.
Wanderers this week made it eight first team signings with the addition of Brentford’s attacking midfielder Paris Maghoma on loan for the season.
The Whites boss still plans to add “one or two” before the close of the transfer window but now feels comfortable that he has options in most positions to enable a more flexible tactical approach than he has in previous campaigns.
“Obviously, the aim and ambition is to improve the squad,” he said. “I do feel we’ve done that.
“What we have tried to do is give ourselves players with different skillsets in every position and to carefully select who are the right players for the right occasions.
“We have Declan John, Randell Williams, young Zac Ashworth and Jack Iredale on the left side for instance. They all offer different things, so we have the capability to change.
“Some away games are different to the home games and what we will try to do is select the right team for the right opponent. We have got a really good squad of players now which is well balanced.”
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