IAN Evatt has a simple message to his Wanderers as they head to Lincoln City on Boxing Day: “Just keep calm and carry on!”

The Bolton boss hopes that the return of club captain Ricardo Santos will help to ease the nerves that were jangling at a blustery Toughsheet Stadium on Saturday in the 3-2 win against Leyton Orient.

The big centre-back was sent off in his previous outing against Bristol Rovers but has become so tactically important to Bolton that his absence can be notable, particularly against teams with a set piece threat.

Evatt was generally pleased with how Will Forrester, Eoin Toal and Gethin Jones helped to stem the O’s second-half comeback at the weekend but says Santos brings a completely different outlook to the team.

“There is a calmness when he is in the side,” he told The Bolton News. “That is absolutely not in any way, shape or form negative towards the three lads who played (against Leyton Orient) because they had to get a job done well too – but when Rico plays, it is different. For me, he is the best centre-back in the league.

“When you are missing him in that type of game you are going to see a difference. First half was exceptional, second-half we had to fight and dig in.

“We welcome Rico back now and we have a good squad of players who are ready to go again on Tuesday. Keep calm, carry on.”

By contrast to their previous opposition, Boxing Day rivals Lincoln City have conceded the most goals (10) from set plays this season in League One. The Imps also concede more possession than all but three sides in the division, which should make for a different type of contest.

Evatt says he has mapped out which team he will play at the LNER Stadium, against Fleetwood three days later and then finally the New Year’s Day home game against Burton Albion.

Circumstances may alter the substitutions he makes within each case – but he expects the blueprint to remain faithful.

“In-game changes might alter but I have an idea of which team will be needed for each game, and we will need everyone,” he said. “If (the Leyton Orient game) had stayed 3-0, 4-0, 4-1, then maybe I would have brought some of the more technical players coming on to the pitch – Carlos (Mendes Gomes), Paris (Maghoma), but it was just about fighting, grafting and getting over the line.

“Lincoln will be a completely different game, a completely different approach, and I think each game over this Christmas period offers something different to think about.

“The squad of players we have gives me the chance to pick the right players for the right occasion.

“I think Tuesday will be much more of a technical game and you will see a different team. That has to happen because four games in eight or nine days is tough, especially when you play the way we do, with and without the ball.

“We will get ready for that now, I’m delighted we could get the win, and I’d like to wish everyone a merry Christmas.”