Bolton Wanderers keen to sign experienced midfielder during December

Ian Evatt confirmed this morning that he has invited an experienced free agent into Lostock for a trial, with a view to offering him a deal.

Bolton are currently missing influential midfielder Andy Tutte with a thigh injury and though he could be back in action by Boxing Day, Evatt is keen to strengthen his options as quickly as possible.

The Whites boss had previously said he would avoid bringing in free agents as it can take longer to bring them up to speed physically and tactically.

But the player brought into the training ground this morning has made him change his mind.

“I always said it would be unless someone really special came along,” he said.

“Now, we have a midfield player at the moment who is available to us and is in training with us today. He will have a look at us, we can look at him.

“He is probably a player who wouldn’t have been within our reach but because he has not been fixed up anywhere else, he’s here.

“I am not going to name names, because I don’t want to lose him to anyone else, but that looks promising moving forwards.”

Evatt is hoping his side respond at Cheltenham on Tuesday night after suffering back-to-back defeats. But he insists his defence is playing better than a record of eight goals conceded in the last two games suggests.

“The week before was a freak – and you have seen that up and down the divisions due to the way football is at the moment in the pandemic," he said.

“We are not giving away many chances but I felt sorry for the lads on the first goal because they deserved more. It was a clear foul on Ali and the ball came in, hit the lad on the back and looped in.

“Second half, the first 10 minutes we had to defend a lot better. But primarily I think they are doing a lot right in defence. I still want them to be a lot calmer in possession, or with clearances, but I am talking Port Vale out of the equation, it’s about what we do going forwards now."