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Gethin Jones will be back in the frame for Wanderers after the break, with Ian Evatt describing the defender as an “important player” in the team’s future.
A knee injury has prevented the 28-year-old from featuring for the Whites so far in League One but he Is expected to be back in contention after the international break.
Jones made 50 appearances in all competitions last season and has played under Evatt 161 times, which is more than any other player except Ricardo Santos (189).
And his versatility in either a central or wide defensive spot is, by Evatt’s estimation, a major boost for the weeks ahead.
“He is an important player for us and one who can obviously play in a wing-back role or as a centre-back, so I think that’s an important string to his bow,” he told The Bolton News.
“He can do the job for both and I think if you look at his win ratio for this team, it’s pretty good. His record – and I am not saying it is just down to him – but he has been a big part of what we have done over a number of years now.
"It will be great to have him back involved around the squad and make it more competitive.”
Jones has been given extra competition with the summer arrivals of Jordi Osei-Tutu and Chris Forino but Evatt believes the Australia international still has a big part to play.
“He is a leader, a good person, and he helps others. And having him available will only increase the quality we have to pick from and the squad depth,” he added.
Jones is one of a handful of Wanderers players who will be back in the fold after the break, including Carlos Mendes Gones and Will Forrester, which could present Evatt with a few more selection decisions.
“I think we will have more options and obviously that adds a bit more complexity with the numbers and the squad but it’s what we wanted,” the manager said.
“When we have a full fit squad available I think it is very competitive. We want competition and players who go out there and perform to keep their shirt, perform on the training pitch every single day, and they earn their spot in the team.
“We want players who perform because if they don’t there is someone ready to take their place and that has to be the mindset right across the squad.
“Even the last couple of weeks, managing to rotate the strikers in particular, they are buying into that policy and they are buying into the fact that every one of them has to play their part, in the team, on the bench.”
Jones, Nathan Baxter, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Scott Arfield, Will Forrester and Carlos Mendes Gomes are expected to be back in contention for a first team spot in the coming weeks, which presents a whole new challenge to the Bolton boss.
“I think we will have more options and obviously that adds a bit more complexity with the numbers and the squad but it’s what we wanted,” he said.
“When we have a full fit squad available I think it is very competitive. We want competition and players who go out there and perform to keep their shirt, perform on the training pitch every single day, and they earn their spot in the team.
“We want players who perform because if they don’t there is someone ready to take their place and that has to be the mindset right across the squad.
“Even the last couple of weeks, managing to rotate the strikers in particular, they are buying into that policy and they are buying into the fact that every one of them has to play their part, in the team, on the bench.”
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