WANDERERS have been hit by another long-term injury after Elias Kachunga tore a thigh muscle in training on the eve of Tuesday night’s game against Wycombe.

Ian Evatt has revealed his striker could now be out of action until April, following an interrupted training schedule over December.

Bolton were forced to close their training ground for a week because of a wave of Covid infections in the squad, with three consecutive games postponed.

Evatt believes those extraordinary circumstances have led to muscular injuries, leaving him another attacking player short for the majority of the campaign.

“This is back to how things have been for us, the whole Covid situation and then having to play Saturday-Tuesday,” bemoaned the Wanderers boss/ “Kacha has got quite a bad thigh tear. He will be out for eight to 12 weeks.

“That is just what happens when you haven’t been able to train and to maintain your fitness because you are self-isolating.

“It is another one to add to the list of disasters we have had this season.”

Xavier Amaechi also missed the 2-0 defeat against Wycombe through injury and now looks unlikely to feature against Ipswich Town this weekend.

“Xav has got a hamstring strain as well,” he added. “A product of that and not training and coming straight back in to high intensity work.

“His isn’t as serious but hopefully a week or so for him.”

Wanderers will be able to give a debut to new signing Aaron Morley against Ipswich and are pushing for a decision from Gillingham on midfielder Kyle Dempsey.

At least one bid has been rejected by the Kent club, who are currently managerless after the departure of Steve Evans.

Evatt has stated on several occasions in the last couple of weeks that he will not waste the budget he has to spend this month or pay over the odds for a player on his shortlist.

Wanderers have already paid cash sums for Dion Charles from Accrington Stanley and Morley, from Rochdale, and are looking to add at least three more players to their squad by the deadline.

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