WANDERERS may have to seek permission from the Football League to add a player to their quota after Josh Vela was ruled out long-term with an ankle injury.

Phil Parkinson has resigned himself to losing his prized midfielder for months, rather than weeks, which coupled with a six-week minimum lay-off for Sammy Ameobi, leaves his squad painfully thin.

David Wheater will also see a specialist this morning over a back problem he picked up in pre-season.

Parkinson is already looking to make changes for tonight’s Carabao Cup game at Crewe and could draft in first year scholars Harry Brockbank, Ryan White, Cole Lonsdale and Jack Earing.

He is unsure whether any extra wiggle room will be granted by the EFL, who have restricted the Whites to just 23 ‘professional staff’ as part of their rules on clubs under embargo.

“At the moment the squad is full, we have to go with what we have got,” he told The Bolton News.

“Ken is going to speak with the Football League in terms of the players we’ve lost already but at the moment we’ve got what we’ve got.

“It’s difficult because we’re in a division competing with teams spending big money on fees and wages – but I’ve said all that. I don’t want to keep going on about it. We can’t make excuses.

“I want to look at improving our performance now and adding to the good stuff we did against Leeds United.”

Parkinson has ruled out a move for ex-Arsenal front man Julio Baptista, which had been heavily hinted on social media in recent weeks.

“I don’t know where it came from – we brought in Aaron Wilbraham so at the moment the numbers are what they are. We’ll go with what we’ve got.”

Parkinson is reluctant to put a timeframe on Vela’s return until the ankle has had some time to settle.

“He’s got damaged ligaments and we’re not going to know for a week or so the extent of that,” he said. “Obviously when a player gets stretchered off it’s not good.”

On Wheater, Parkinson regrets pushing the big defender to play against Leeds on Sunday after expressing concerns over his back problem.

“We’re going to look to get work on David’s back this week and see a specialist,” Parkinson said. “From a staff point of view he probably shouldn’t have played Sunday. He wasn’t right.

“We always analyse ourselves win, lose or draw. And he wasn’t right.

“He is seeing someone tomorrow morning to improve that.”