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Wanderers will be forced to make several changes in their final remaining EFL Trophy match at Stockport County on Tuesday night.
Ian Evatt will be without his international contingent – Dion Charles, Eoin Toal, Josh Sheehan and Carlos Mendes Gomes – and so could look towards the B Team to boost numbers.
Bolton have won their first two games and are guaranteed a place in the next round but a draw against in-form County would be enough to ensure they finish top.
Looking ahead to the match, Evatt said changes were unavoidable.
“I haven’t really got a lot of choice,” he said. “We have done the hard work, we’re obviously through, but we would like to win because it means we top the group and get a home game in the next round.
“We are light on numbers, though, so we have to look at giving some opportunities to younger players, have a look at them. For instance Luke Matheson deserves a chance, and he’ll get one, but there are others who are champing at the bit who can use that game and remind me what they can do.
“As for the international players, they just have to stay healthy, stay fit, and represent the club the right way. We hope they can go and affect what their county is planning to do.”
Mendes Gomes will make his debut for Guinea Bissau in games against Burkina Faso and Djibouti, although the travel time will be cut down as the matches will be played in North Africa.
The attacker has only recently returned from a hamstring injury and will head out to represent his country with words of advice from his club manager.
Evatt explained: “I don’t think it is as bad as it might have been – they are not playing in Guinea Bissau. They are playing in Morocco and Egypt, I believe, which are not quite as long a journey, on neutral ground.
“It is also important for him to realise where he is in his return to full fitness. He was out a long time and had quite a serious injury and it is important he manages his body in the correct manner.”
Wanderers will regroup during the international break to mend some of the minor injuries they have picked up in recent weeks.
Will Forrester should return from a knee problem, while Gethin Jones (ankle), Aaron Morley (hip), Kyle Dempsey (back) and Zac Ashowrth (calf), have all had various issues.
“The players deserve a reset, they need it,” Evatt said. “To have won those away games in the manner we did, to beat Blackpool as we did, takes a lot of energy. It was a real team effort.
“I am really proud of the players but we know there is a lot of hard work to go.”
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