BRANDON Comley has been excluded from a squad list submitted by Wanderers to the EFL for the League One campaign.

The midfielder, who has not featured for Bolton since December 5, was the notable absentee in a 20-man roster which will be available for league games.

Ian Evatt has the option of adding up to three senior players to his squad, with EFL approval, over the coming months but Comley’s exclusion has added weight to the belief that he will be loaned out to the National League before the next transfer window.

Leyton Orient had been eyeing Comley in the days leading up to the summer deadline but a move never materialised and the 25-year-old played for the reserves in their Central League game against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday.

Last season, the former Colchester United ball-winner made 14 appearances in all competitions, the last of which came in a 6-3 home defeat to Port Vale.

Comley had initially been signed to anchor the Bolton midfield alongside Blackburn Rovers loanee Tom White and Andy Tutte in League Two but after starting five of the first seven games he dropped out of contention.

The arrival of MJ Williams in January, plus the rise to prominence of George Thomason and summer addition of Josh Sheehan left Comley well down the pecking order.

Although he is currently unable to play in league games, Comley can feature in the Papa John’s Trophy.

Included on the list, however, is defender Liam Edwards – who has not played a senior game for the club since January 28, 2020.

The Crewe-born centre-half fractured his kneecap in a training ground collision and after several setbacks is now making his way towards a full recovery.

EFL rules state that League One clubs can name 23 players who are aged over-21, excluding goalkeepers.

The Wanderers squad in full: Afolayan, Aimson, Bakayoko, Baptiste, Brockbank, Delfouneso, Doyle, Edwards, Gordon, Isgrove, John, Johnston, Jones, Kachunga, Lee, Santos, Sarcevic, Sheehan, Tutte, Williams.

Under-21 contracted players: Alexander, Amaechi, Colvin, Darcy, Fitzmartin, Hurford-Lockett, Hutchinson, Politic, Senior, Thomason.