Declan John has been ruled out of tonight’s Papa Johns Trophy match at Tranmere Rovers with a hamstring strain.

The severity of the injury is not yet known but Ian Evatt has confirmed that the Welsh wing-back will be missing for the time being.

Jack Iredale picked up a dead leg during Saturday’s 1-0 win against Peterborough United and could also be a doubt for the trip to Prenton Park.

The Australian defender has started the last five games in all competitions but could be replaced on the left by Liverpool loanee, Owen Beck.

The 20-year-old has not yet featured for Bolton but Evatt said he was getting closer to match fitness and that he may feature in the squad.

A handful of international players have now left to link-up with their countries, including striker Amadou Bakayoko. But Jon Dadi Bodvarsson has not been selected in the Iceland squad, having recently recovered from a hamstring injury, and will get more game time tonight.

Lloyd Isgrove had been nursing a foot problem but is understood to have made progress; he, Josh Sheehan and Eoin Toal will be involved against Tranmere.

Evatt says several of his players need competitive football, having been on the fringes of the squad for the last few weeks.

“It’s absolutely vital to try and keep everyone up to speed as best we can because things change quickly in football,” he said. “Declan John had an injury yesterday, we’ve got Jack Iredale with a dead leg today. Footballers do get injured, especially when you play so intensely like we do.

“We have to try and make them robust but eventually one or two of them are going to break and it’s having the replacements ready and up to speed to step right in and do themselves justice and we’re working really hard to make sure that happens.”

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