HIS team sit eight points from safety, and with 24 left to play for, Phil Parkinson says Wanderers are entering the stage where single points will not be enough to stave off the threat of relegation.

Ahead of their trip to London, the manager feels the gap, combined with the division’s worst goal difference, means they cannot settle for draws to rescue them.

“I think we’re at the ‘must-win’ stage,” he said. “We can’t hide away from the facts of the league table, but I just want to concentrate on the elements of our performance at QPR and improving from where we were at the Wigan game.

“They had a bad start to the season then they picked up and they’ve stumbled of late. They’ve played a three at the back at times, recently they’ve gone to a 4-4-1-1 with [Eberechi] Eze in behind Nahki Wells, so it’s one of those where, until we get the team sheet, we don’t know exactly how they’re going to play.

“We know who their key players are but it’s very much about us putting in a performance and we can get back on the coach knowing we’ve put in a proper Championship-standard performance.

“We’ve got to be realistic, put in performances and see what points tally we can get to and make sure for the last eight games our performances are the very best of what we’re capable of. If that ultimately keeps us in the division then great, but at this moment on only concentrating on the game at QPR and making sure we’re better than we were against Wigan.”

Meanwhile, Parkinson’s opposite number Steve McClaren says the international break has given his injured players enough time to recover, and he is selecting from a fully-fit squad today.

Today’s hosts sit 17th in the table, eight points clear of the bottom three, and still have some work to do to ensure Championship football at Loftus Road next term, but a clean bill of health means their manager can head into the final straight with a degree of comfort.

Angel Rangel is in line to play his first game of 2019 after overcoming a thigh problem and Luke Freeman, who came off at half time in their last outing, a 2-2 draw at Hull City, has also shaken off the knock he suffered. “We needed the break,” McClaren said. “Hopefully our results now show that.

“It was important in terms of rest and recovery – and we were also able to put in some work on the training ground.

“Everybody is probably looking at the game and expecting us to win, but it’s not going to be that straightforward. We’re going to have to put in the work.

“Despite their difficulties, Bolton have always fought, always battled, and I’m sure they’ll make it very, very difficult for us.”