It's Dale or no Dale for crocked Wanderers defensive trio

Phil Parkinson’s squad has been decimated with injuries and illness, particularly at centre-half where first choice pairing Mark Beevers and David Wheater are significant doubts.

Right-back Lewis Buxton is another player nursing an injury sustained in the 0-0 draw against Bradford – which means three of Saturday’

Josh Vela, Liam Trotter and James Henry were given only light training duties yesterday to minimise their risk of injury – but assistant boss Steve Parkin, who took media duties yesterday, admitted the options could be thin.

“I think it’ll be a case of getting them in and doing a head count,” he told The Bolton News. “Beevers has had tonsillitis, Wheater has a twinge in his calf and Buxton got a knock on his knee – so those three are a doubt for a start.

“There have been players sitting on the bench in the last few weeks who have been telling us they are desperate for a chance, so here it is.

“We will have to go with what we have got fit at Rochdale and cope.with it.”

In more encouraging news, Zach Clough did train yesterday morning, with Parkin looking forward to seeing him back at full fitness.

“He trained well with a few the lads who didn’t play Saturday,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve ever put any pressure on him to get back sooner than we needed him.

“The key thing was just getting him back to fitness after the two hamstrings he’s had, then the niggles after that before throwing him back in.

“He trained well last week and has done again today, so I’m sure he’s champing at the bit to get back in.

“I haven’t seen enough of him since I have been here to make a complete judgement on him but from what I have seen, he’s got the talent and the technique to handle any responsibility we put on his shoulders.”

Parkin admits he is looking for an improvement on Wanderers’ last outing, a 0-0 draw against Bradford.

“We had players to create more chances in the final third than we did,” he said. “That is frustrating.”