SATURDAY’S clash with Barnsley could be second time lucky for Wanderers defender Reece Burke.

The West Ham loanee was dropped to the bench in the heavy defeat at Wolves after Mark Beevers returned from suspension but is set to be restored to Phil Parkinson’s starting line-up after David Wheater picked up a fifth booking of the season at Molineux.

Burke had impressed in his previous outing against Reading and bagged his first senior goal for the Whites – and Parkinson admits the youngster had every right to feel aggrieved he did not keep his place in the side at Molineux.

“Reece Burke was very unlucky he didn’t stay in the team,” said the Whites boss. “I think he’ll have sat and watched that (Wolves) game thinking ‘I can’t wait for next week, because if I play well I’ve got a good chance of staying in that team’ and I don’t blame him.”

Burke’s start against Reading had been his first since the 3-0 defeat against Brentford in September but he did not feature in a strong Under-23s line-up last night against Crewe.

Parkinson made minimal changes to his starting line-up during a seven-game unbeaten run but could now shake things up after Will Buckley grabbed his first Bolton goal, and Craig Noone also gave his manager something to think about with a bright second-half cameo from the bench.

“I thought the two wide players came on and gave us a lift,” Parkinson said. “I’m pleased for Will, too, it’s a bonus for any player coming into a club to score his first goal. He’s waited a while and hasn’t had too many chances because of injury and other players’ form. But it’s good for him to get off the mark.”

One player whose position looks safe at present is Everton loanee Antonee Robinson, who drew praise from his manager despite the margin of defeat on Saturday.

“I thought Antonee was outstanding,” he said. “It was a difficult system to play against and a lot of communication is required because their movement is very, very good. But he is improving as a player and he did well.”