IAN Evatt reckons no other squad in League One could cope with the list of absentees Wanderers have carried in the last few weeks.

With several key players side-lined through injury and suspension through September, including captain Ricardo Santos, vice-captain Gethin Jones and midfield men like Paris Maghoma and Carlos Mendes Gomes, the Bolton boss has seen his squad options whittled down significantly.

Evatt has been impressed, however, by the attitude shown by those who continued to carry the fight in League One, especially in defence where Will Forrester has come in to join Eoin Toal and Jack Iredale in a back three that continues to give little away.

“I think Rico is a fantastic player and he walks into any team in this league, probably most in the league above too,” the manager said. “We have missed him but as I always say, football does create opportunity.

“Before Will played his first game we’d talked about it being a big opportunity to do what Eoin Toal did last season, to come into the team and make it his own, and so far he has done fantastically well.

“I do believe this squad has coped with the volume of injuries fantastically well – I honestly don’t think there is another squad in this league that could have handled the seven we have had out, all of which are experienced players who would have been in our first team.

“It has been tough, challenging, but they keep stepping up to the plate. Now, before this mini-break when the cavalry will hopefully start to return, we have to make sure our full focus is on putting ourselves in the best possible situation in the table. When we return stronger, with more options, I want to give it – and we will be fully ready to give it - a really good go.”

Another aspect which has pleased Evatt in recent weeks has been the impact made by players coming off the bench.

Bolton are yet to have a replacement score or assist a goal this season – but there have been signs of improvement noted in outings against Port Vale and Peterborough United.

“We’d spoken about that prior to the Peterborough game, saying we needed more – and I think we have seen more in the past couple of games,” he said.

“I do think some of it has been down to the nature of the games, us being ahead at half time, and sometimes comfortably. Naturally, players take their foot off the gas and then the substitutes that come on are hindered by that.

“It has been positive to see what has happened the last two games, though, and hopefully once the depth comes back it will improve further.”