WANDERERS boss Ian Evatt is keen for his side to get used to playing in front of opposition fans as the new season approaches.

The Whites continue their pre-season preparations with a trip to FC United of Manchester this afternoon.

Of the 1,600 tickets available at Broadhurst Park, only 250 have been allocated to the visitors.

“It is great,” said Evatt. “Another opportunity to go away from home and be the ones who are being shouted and screamed at, while the other team are being spurred on.

“We need to get used to those kinds of atmospheres again and it will come along quite quickly in August. 

“We can play in a stadium where there is a good fanbase, good noise, singing, and with not many Bolton fans there. I hope we give a good account of ourselves.”

Evatt has come up against the Red Rebels both as a player and as a manager, and is looking forward to visiting Broadhurst Park once again.

“I was fortunate to play there in an FA Cup tie four or five years ago for Chesterfield,” he added. "It was a full house and it was a great atmosphere.

The Bolton News: Wanderers head to FC United this afternoonWanderers head to FC United this afternoon

“We played them with Barrow in the FA Vase. They came to Barrow, I think we won 7-0 on the day but the FC fans didn’t stop singing the whole time.

“I think it’ll be a great atmosphere. We’re looking forward to the game.” 

Wanderers kicked off pre-season with wins over Longridge Town and Atherton Colls, and Evatt believes this afternoon’s game will be a good test for the side.

He said: “I think ideally we’d have probably liked one of Atherton or Longridge and then gone into the FC game, and then had another more competitive game - a League Two fixture perhaps or a decent National League team.

“But it is what it is and we can only play and beat what is put in front of us this pre-season, so we do think that FC United will pose a different challenge. One because our fanbase will be outnumbered because they have excellent support.”

Eoin Doyle and Dennis Politic are still self-isolating and will miss this afternoon’s match, but Antoni Sarcevic is available after coming off with a hamstring problem at Longridge.

Evatt is pleased with the squad’s fitness levels and plans to increase playing time for some players.

He added: “We will progress the minutes accordingly to where each individual is at, physically.

"Some of them will need more than others but most are ahead of where they should be at the moment. We need to manage those minutes now and try to raise the bar a bit.”