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Wanderers say they were powerless to prevent Eoin Toal leaving the camp to join up with Northern Ireland this week – despite the defender carrying a muscle tear which rendered him unavailable for Saturday’s home game against Exeter City.
Ian Evatt has been left frustrated that his centre-half has been told to report for duty with Michael O’Neill’s squad for Nations League games against Luxembourg at home and Bulgaria away.
Toal missed the weekend’s defeat against the Grecians after sustaining an injury in training at the back end of last week but will first be checked over by Northern Ireland’s medical staff before potentially being sent back home again.
Dion Charles faced a similar situation over the summer after recuperating from a knee injury, eventually aggravating the problem and facing several more weeks out of action.
Evatt says he has attempted to reason with the Northern Ireland officials, to no avail.
Speaking at the weekend, he said: Toally has a torn glute, which is grade two, so he will be out for about two to three weeks.
“We reported it to Northern Ireland but they still feel the need to call him up. We haven’t got any power with the international countries even though we pay his wages and can prove that he is injured.
“We are just hopeful that we don’t have another Dion Charles situation and he comes back worse off. We are in the lap of the Gods with that.
“We have tried to have dialogue but they stamp their feet and make it really clear that it is in their jurisdiction to do that they want to do. We just have to see what happens.”
Scott Arfield will miss the Bristol Street Motors Trophy game at Barrow with a hamstring injury and none of the international contingent – which includes Toal, Charles, Luke Southwood and Josh Sheehan – will be available to play.
Evatt was unable to alter the date of the game, so switched around a few of the players on his bench at the weekend to make sure the team he picks at Holker Street will comply with the rules of the competition.
Asked if he tried to postpone the game, he said: “We simply couldn’t, there are no other spare weeks – we are where we are. I just get frustrated because I try to take the competition seriously, as you should do, and to do what the rules stipulate. But when it is in the middle of an international break and you lose half your team, and already have a depleted squad, what are you supposed to do?
“It has hindered the squad today (against Exeter) but we have to get through Tuesday night, hopefully unscathed, and we can regroup, recoup and go again for Huddersfield Town at home.”
Competition rules call for EFL clubs to play “full strength” teams or face fines of up to £5,000.
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