PHIL Parkinson reckons his Carabao Cup experiment produced results, even if his side did not book a place in the next round.

While it is untrue to say defeat at Elland Road was irrelevant to the Bolton boss, he was definitely able to shrug off its significance as he turned his thoughts to tomorrow’s game at Reading.

The 10 changes made at Leeds United was a bold step which would have been inconceivable last season but which illustrate a greater depth to the Wanderers squad which has taken four points from a possible six in the league so far.

However, with more options come more decisions, and Parkinson admits picking a team at the Madejski Stadium will be a little tougher thanks to a handful of encouraging midweek performances.

“I was genuinely pleased with how we played,” he said. “Right from the goalkeeper down I was happy and it means we’ll have plenty to think about when we pick the team at Reading.

“No-one likes losing games, players or managers, but when you can come off the pitch and know you’ve got something positive out of the game it’s the next best thing.”

The departure of Adam Le Fondre has dominated the agenda over the last few days and with Parkinson keen to assess all the available options in the loan market, a replacement will not be signed in time for the weekend.

The Wanderers boss is confident, though, his team have enough goals to cope.

“We have got goals in the team,” he said. “We have Josh, Clayton, Oz – who is great in that number 10 role – and I feel he will produce things for us as he showed at Leeds.

“I was pleased with Clayton Donaldson too. He’s been out with a little niggle and only trained for a couple of days but we asked him to play a role he has played before, out wide, and he looked a real threat. He will come on for that performance.”

Home games against Birmingham and Sheffield United follow quickly after Reading and Parkinson hinted he could bring in Marc Wilson and Jack Hobbs for more action at the centre of defence.

“Marc Wilson showed everyone the quality he’s got on the ball. Some of his passing was very good but I like his spirit as well.

“Both he and Jack Hobbs are good lads, knocking hard on the door but they are doing it the right way.”