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Ian Evatt is looking forward to adding some ‘X Factor’ to his Wanderers line-up as the League One promotion bid fires up once again.
The Bolton boss is hoping to get summer signings Paris Maghoma and Carlos Mendes Gomes fit for a tough run of fixtures which starts with the visit of Northampton Town to the Toughsheet Stadium this weekend.
Wanderers have not been able to call on Maghoma or Mendes Gomes for the last six games in league and cup and Evatt believes that has dulled the edge of his team’s attack.
Brentford loanee Maghoma should be available for Saturday, although Gomes may not be risked until the following week, when the Whites travel to Wycombe and Charlton Athletic.
It is hoped that striker Dion Charles will also report back from international duty with Northern Ireland showing no ill-effects of the shoulder problem that hampered him since the defeat at Reading.
All being well, Evatt is banking on his side producing a much more convincing performance than they managed last time out against Carlisle United.
“We said for a few weeks that we might have to just get through this difficult spell and, unfortunately, we couldn’t sign off in the way we would have wanted,” he told The Bolton News. “We’ll all look at that and want to improve on it, of course we will.
“But I think when you look at the game and how it unfolded, we really missed those players with an X Factor when we wanted someone to dribble, cut through, that is why we signed Carlos and Paris.
“We have our star striker, who has still managed to score goals but not been himself because of his injury. He has put himself forward, tried to continue, but of course he has been affected.
“Any team in this division would suffer with those players out. We have still managed to gain some results but we need them back and we’ll need a bit of the rub of the green to keep them fit too.
“We had a little window to freshen things up, get everyone back, and then we can really attack that game against Northampton to make sure we are back on track.”
Northampton come into the game having won two of their last three, lifting them to 19th spot in the table.
Josh Sheehan, who has also been on international duty with Wales, says there is a responsibility on Wanderers to set the right pace in the game and not allow their opposition to settle, as they did against Carlisle.
“I have been part of that in the past, when you are part of a side that goes to a bigger team away from home you try and frustrate, get the crowd against them, it’s the normality in football,” said the former Newport County man.
“Most clubs will look to do that in a big stadium, big crowd, think they can get after them and level things out a bit more.
“Our job as a team is to do the opposite. We need to push forward, create chances, get on that front foot and not allow ourselves to slow down or become negative on the ball.
“When we get the crowd behind us I honestly think there are not many teams who can handle us but it is one thing knowing what to expect, we have to put that into action.”
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