PHIL Parkinson is plotting a measure of redemption in this weekend’s FA Cup clash with Walsall.

Tuesday’s 6-0 hammering at Hull City landed Wanderers back in the bottom three with a thump and prompted a fresh wave of questions about the manager’s future.

But Parkinson is expected to press ahead this morning with plans for Saturday’s visit of the League One Saddlers and is pledging to “freshen up” his side.

It is understood one of the options being considered is a debut for Under-23s midfielder, Joe Pritchard, who was included in the first team squad on New Year’s Day.

Other first teamers, such as Luke Murphy, Mark Little and Remi Matthews are also in-line for a rare appearance.

Walsall, who have sold 975 tickets for the game, represent a potentially-tricky opponent coming so soon after the KCOM collapse.

“It’s a game where we have got to build ourselves back towards that next league match,” he said of the third-round clash.

“There are players who will come in and get an opportunity because we have had a lot of football over this last period and, without making excuses, there were some very tired legs out there. We have got to look at that now for Saturday.”

Parkinson admitted he did not tear into his players after the final whistle at Hull but will begin the inquest into the heaviest defeat of his Bolton reign.

“After a game is sometimes not the time to have much of an inquest,” he said. “I’ll look at the game back and have a meeting about it with the players.

“The lads dug deep over the Christmas period but got turned over. We are disappointed and there are things we can do better.”

The Bolton boss also felt his decision to send the Wanderers players over to the travelling fans to thank them for their support at Hull was warranted.

“If you walk down the tunnel you get heavily criticised, so I think whatever the score you have to be brave enough to clap the fans,” he said.