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Ian Evatt says there is “zero per cent” chance of Dion Charles being involved for Wanderers before the international break.
Northern Ireland have named the striker as part of a 25-man squad for friendlies against Romania and Scotland despite him not being involved in Bolton’s last eight games in League One.
Charles has struggled to rid himself of a knee injury – and has had to shelve a couple of comebacks in recent weeks after aggravating the issue when he returned to the training ground.
He is now back running once more but Evatt doubts significantly that he will be fit enough to play any part for Northern Ireland.
“I believe they want to look at him and there is dialogue between their medical staff and our own, so they know exactly where Dion is at,” he told The Bolton News.
“It is not just down to us to make that call. The dialogue will continue, and I have a lot of respect for Northern Ireland, their manager, and we will see how he gets on.
“He is getting better, he is getting closer, but we must remember that he has been out for six weeks but to be put straight into an international game, particularly of the magnitude of Northern Ireland against Scotland, would be really tough.
“Conversations are taking place and hopefully they will come to the right decision, and that Dion won’t be broken down.”
Wanderers will also learn on Friday the next step for Nathan Baxter, who has missed the last 10 games with a wrist ligament injury.
The former Chelsea keeper has been advised to keep completely clear of competitive football until the international break to give him the best possible chance to make a comeback in the remaining seven games of the season.
Joel Coleman will once again keep goal at Derby on Saturday but Evatt is hoping that Baxter will be given the go-ahead early next week to resume training once again.
“Nathan’s splint comes off tomorrow (Friday) and will be back in the scanner,” he said. “He will have a dynamic ultrasound which will take a good look inside the wrist to see where the healing process is at, then he will hopefully get the all-clear from a specialist he is seeing on Monday.”
Wanderers have no further injury issues ahead of a big game at Pride Park but were buoyed by their 5-0 win against Oxford United.
Concentrating on replicating that level of performance is now the chief aim at Derby, says Evatt.
“We are calm, and I stressed the importance of calmness after the game on Tuesday,” he said. “This game always gives you highs and lows, puts you in extreme pressured circumstances, and you have to keep your head to deal with what is going to be thrown our way.
“Teams are scrapping for those top two spots and we are one of them. For that to be successful we need to play consistently, and that needs trust, faith and calmness.
“I have felt the players have returned to form. We are unbeaten in four and a couple of them are ones we should have won. For us, we go into Saturday trying to replicate again what we did on Tuesday.”
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