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Joel Coleman has been primed to remain as Wanderers’ number one for the rest of March, Wanderers have confirmed.
Nathan Baxter has taken medical advice to swap the protective cast on his wrist ligament injury for a splint, with a further review due in a couple of weeks.
Boltonian Coleman will be in goal on Saturday as Ian Evatt’s side look to bounce back from damaging defeats at Blackpool and Wigan Athletic.
The club remain hopeful, however, that Baxter will be fit enough to play in the final month of the season.
Evatt said: “The pot has come off and the specialist has basically advised him to spend another two to three weeks in a splint to increase the healing. There are signs of healing there, which is a positive, but it hasn’t healed completely yet and Nathan wants to give himself the best chance he can to heal.
“The next marker for us is probably the international break now.”
Coleman had not played regular football for two seasons before joining Bolton in the summer and though he had been Evatt’s cup keeper for much of the campaign, the manager’s predilection for not naming a sub keeper on the bench had left him out of the squad for half the league games before Baxter’s injury.
Evatt feels he is now seeing signs that the 28-year-old is getting sharper.
“It has been a really difficult thing for him to do. Nathan and James (Trafford) before him mean they are big shoes to fill, and Joel has stepped in and is doing the best he can. We are very appreciative of that,” Evatt said.
“I think he has got better every game, and he will get better now for every game he plays.
“As I have said before, he needs our support and backing because that is how is has to be. He is the player who has to play in that position at the moment.
“And there will be continuous improvement because he is getting up to match speed.”
Evatt revealed that boyhood Wanderers fan, Coleman, and his family have had to contend with unwanted abuse over the last few weeks since he stepped into the breach left by the injured Baxter.
“The personal criticism that he has received – to him and to his family – is not helpful,” the manager said. “Sometimes I question what the end goal and agenda is here. Do we want this team to be promoted? If we do, let’s be supportive and give it the best shot we can. That is my opinion.
“I am all for fair criticism and I have said before that I am not motivated by people saying I am good, I am motivated by people who ask questions and criticise in the right way.
“When it becomes personal – and it has at times because I have had conversations about it with the players – then it makes my job more difficult.
“Let’s just support the players and Joel as best we can. He is a Bolton fan, he loves this club, and we are pleased with him.”
Evatt has been cleared of an FA charge after picking up a red card in the 1-1 draw at Northampton Town.
A personal hearing was held on Monday after referee Jeremy Simpson claimed the Bolton boss had used “acted in an improper manner and used abusive words” during the half time interval.
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