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Kyle Dempsey is expected to miss around four weeks after having knee surgery – and Ian Evatt says it was the “best case scenario”.
Dempsey has not featured since the defeat at Birmingham, when he limped off at the break and did not return for the second half.
Wanderers had been waiting to learn the extend of the midfielder’s injury after seeing a consultant, and Evatt admitted that the outcome could have been much worse.
“Kyle had surgery on Tuesday, it was the best case scenario,” said the manager.
“It was one of those circumstances where the consultant wasn’t sure what he was going to find until he actually entered the knee, but what he did find was pretty positive.
“I think he will be four weeks which was the best case scenario, just basically a general tidy up. It is good to get some good news for once!”
Wanderers’ internationals were back in the building for training on Thursday and Evatt was pleased with what he saw from the squad.
Dion Charles and Josh Sheehan won promotion in the Nations League with their respective countries, and Evatt challenged the duo to carry that momentum into their club football.
“That is what they have to do,” he continued. “They have to take the form they showed on international duty into the team.
“I think Dion, in particular, hasn’t really hit the heights this season which we all know he is capable of, I think that is fair to say.
“Josh is incredibly consistent, he is a really good player, and he has to continue on that vein of form which he has shown since his injury really - after the three or four months he took to get back to top speed and condition.
“It can only bode well for this club that those lads have gone away, had a good time and can bring back some confidence for Saturday.”
The Bolton boss was pictured shovelling snow on Tuesday morning, along with his staff and some of the youth players, to make sure that training could go ahead as planned.
“It was a monumental team effort,” Evatt smiled. “The whole staff were out on the pitch shovelling snow from very early on. That can be like a team-building exercise.
“Some of the apprentices came and gave us a hand as well which was fantastic. We all mucked in together, got the job done and the players were able to prepare.
“The groundsmen have done a brilliant job at Lostock so I am delighted with them, and I’m delighted with everybody this week. Fingers crossed, we can take that into Saturday.”
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