THE future of several Wanderers stars could hinge on an upturn in form at the end of 2018.

Phil Parkinson admits the jury is still out on a number of players in his squad who either see their contract expire in January, or who have struggled to gain a regular place in the side.

The likes of Gary O’Neil, Stephen Ireland and Lloyd Dyer only have short-term deals at present and as Wanderers begin to consider the winter window, Parkinson has offered up a clean slate to every member of his squad.

Eight league games remain this year – starting with a trip to Millwall tomorrow – and the Wanderers boss wants to see more from those who have under-performed thus far.

“As the next month-and-a-half progresses renewing contracts is one of the things me and the chairman will be thinking about,” he said. “But there’s a lot of football to be played before then. Obviously you want players to step up to the plate and make that decision for you.”

Parkinson has come in for criticism in some quarters for the number of changes made to his line-ups but the Bolton boss argues he has not had enough players who have made themselves ‘undroppable’ over the first 17 games.

“It’s a two-fold thing – players who get picked on Saturday, make us want to pick you on Tuesday,” he said. “Do enough so that when we’re sat on the journey back there’s a list of players we know are definitely playing.

“Sometimes we make changes to freshen up, sometimes it’s because people haven’t done enough and others are knocking on the door.

“Saturday is the day where people can say ‘I’m ready and I want to play in the next game’.

“Every player wants to be out there and it’s frustrating when you are not. I get that. But when you have a shirt, make a claim. Or if you are left out, make sure it’s harsh that I have done that.”

O’Neil could return to the side after a calf injury but Ireland – who has yet to make his first appearance in a Bolton shirt – will have to wait at least a week despite returning to full training.