Wanderers will be hoping to wrap up 2023 with a victory when they make the short trip to Fleetwood.

Ian Evatt’s men enter the game on the back of a dramatic late win at Lincoln on Boxing Day thanks to Eoin Toal’s header.

The Whites currently sit third in the League One table – four points behind leaders Portsmouth with a game in hand at this stage.

Team news

Evatt is confident his side have come through their victory against the Imps unscathed barring a couple of “bangs and bruises”.

The Bolton boss opted to make five changes at the LNER Stadium and plans to keep rotating his squad to combat the fixture congestion over the Christmas period.

Fleetwood are down to the bare bones ahead of their clash with Wanderers, and manager Lee Johnson admits they are “hobbling to January”.

A couple of players are dealing with niggles, although Junior Quitirna’s return from a hamstring issue is a welcome boost.

Opposition lowdown

Fleetwood drew 1-1 against Carlisle in their last outing, with Jayden Stockley cancelling out Owen Moxon’s opener.

The Cod Army also came from behind to claim a point against Portsmouth last weekend, with Josh Earl getting on the scoresheet at Fratton Park.

Johnson’s side find themselves 23rd in the table and four points from safety heading into the New Year.

Head-to-head

Wanderers ran out 3-1 winners when the sides met at the Toughsheet Community Stadium earlier in the season thanks to Victor Adeboyejo’s hat trick. Bolton finished the game with 10 men after Dion Charles was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Evatt’s men also came out on top on their last trip to the Highbury Stadium, with Conor Bradley and Dapo Afolayan scoring in the final five minutes to complete a thrilling comeback. Carlos Mendes Gomes netted against Wanderers that day.

Predicted line-up

The Bolton News: