STEPHEN Ireland could get his first outing in a Wanderers shirt tonight.
The former Stoke City midfielder is being considered for a place in the Under-23s side playing a development league game at Crewe Alexandra.
Phil Parkinson confirmed the 32-year-old had returned to full training last week after a calf problem and the Bolton boss will make a decision on whether to draft him into David Lee’s team this morning.
“Stephen has been training this week and he might get some football on Friday in the game against Crewe,” he told The Bolton News.
“We’ll see how he progresses and make that decision towards the weekend because we need to get him gradually up to speed.”
Ireland played just five times for Stoke City last season in the Premier League as he felt his way back from a double leg fracture.
His last start was on January 15, 2018, in the Potters’ 3-0 defeat against Manchester United.
The former Ireland international signed a short-term contract with Wanderers in September, which runs until January.
“He is keen to get out there, fans are keen to see him out there,” Parkinson said last week. “But we have to be very careful that we move him along at the right speed so there are no more injury problems.”
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