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Wanderers are in the market for a new striker this January – but are willing to wait for the right man to become available.
Ian Evatt is looking to add another front man on loan after losing Dan Nlundulu to a hamstring injury for the next few months.
The Bolton News understands that Luton Town’s Joe Taylor was not on the club’s shortlist, but that Blackburn Rovers’ Niall Ennis could be of interest, if he is made available at Ewood Park.
Former Plymouth Argyle striker Ennis has struggled for regular football since his summer move to Rovers, starting just three times in the Championship.
But Bolton know first-hand of his quality at League One level, with Ennis scoring for Argyle in a 2-0 win against the Whites at Home Park last August, one of 14 goals he managed in all competitions.
It has also emerged that former Tottenham midfielder Josh Onomah is not on Wanderers’ radar, nor is he currently on trial with the club.
The 26-year-old is a free agent after leaving Preston North End in the summer and is well known to Evatt, who enquired about him after he left Fulham last year.
Wanderers have not ruled out making signings in January, particularly with Gethin Jones and Carlos Mendes Gomes away on international duty until next month.
Speaking at the club’s Lostock training ground yesterday morning ahead of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy game at Accrington, Evatt said the club was happy to keep their targets under wraps.
“The speculation is, from what I gather, all wrong,” he said.
“I have seen players mentioned who are just not part of our list. They may have been in the past but certainly not now.
“We know what we want and who we want but in the January window there is always that domino effect, so for now we’re just having to sit tight, be patient and wait.”
Wanderers have enjoyed mixed fortunes under Evatt at Stanley but won on both of their visits last season, including the Papa Johns Trophy semi-final.
Though tonight’s opponents eventually suffered relegation to League Two, the Bolton boss foresees a similarly hard-fought encounter and will look to freshen up the team that played against Luton Town in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon, where possible.
“It will be a high energy game, it always it, so we will have to be ready for it,” he said.
“We have made some memories there, one real low a couple of years back when we had about seven or eight fit first team players and it definitely wasn’t a pleasant evening.
“Then there was a 3-2 comeback, which was great, and so was the semi-final. But it is always a tough game, always.
“There is a little bit of extra motivation for them to beat us this time after what happened last season and we know John Coleman’s teams are competitive.”
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