IAN Evatt has explained why Declan John was not in the squad to face Ipswich Town on Saturday.

The Welsh wing-back had started the previous two games against Portsmouth and Morecambe but was not in the matchday 18 at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Gethin Jones started on the left flank, and was moved on to the left side of the back three in the second half when Randell Williams was brought on.

Evatt explained that the decision to play Jones ahead of John was tactically motivated, and that Williams had offered more flexibility from the bench.

“It wasn’t an injury, I just felt their biggest attacking threat with the width was Wes Burns. I felt we needed to play an extra defender there,” he said.

“Randell gives us flexibility to play him on the left or right side, and Declan doesn’t, it was a pure decision based on what Wes Burns offers. He plays as a winger and we needed someone with a more defensive mind to take care of him.”

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