DECLAN John is waiting to hear whether Salford City will pick up his loan deal for the second half of the season.

Wanderers have told their Welsh wing-back he can move elsewhere in January but his deal at the Peninsula Stadium expired at the start of the week.

League Two Salford recently sacked manager Neil Wood and are reported to be considering ex-Manchester United and Wales winger Ryan Giggs as his replacement.

But John – who made what could be his last appearance as a second-half sub in Monday’s 3-0 defeat at Accrington Stanley - is still in the dark about what happens next.

Ian Evatt told The Bolton News: “At the moment nothing has progressed. Salford have obviously had a change of manager and a new one hasn’t been appointed yet so I don’t know how that affects Declan’s situation.

“We will wait to speak with Salford and see what they want to do, and hopefully have some answers this week because that is when the loan ends.

“There will be a decision at that point – but for us, he is available but there is not a lot more to add to that.”

Wanderers have had Gethin Jones and Carlos Mendes Gomes leave for international duty and were without the left-sided Jack Iredale because of a knee injury on New Year’s Day.

John could return to Lostock for training this week if nothing is sorted with Salford – but Evatt said it was unlikely that he would be retained in the longer term, with a second loan deal likely to see out the remainder of his contract.

“We never force or push anyone out of the door, it is not the way we do things,” he said. “Declan certainly won’t be ostracised but at the minute we are happy with what we have got.

“Yes, the numbers are a little bit light because of the internationals and one or two niggly things like Jack (Iredale) etc, but, as always, we will see how things develop.”

Salford have struggled after reaching the play-offs last season, but John has found regular football, playing 19 times in all competitions.

He had made 92 appearances at Bolton, signing initially on loan from Swansea City, and helping the club gain promotion from League Two.

But Evatt told us last month that the time had come to part ways, with a move elsewhere best for both the club and John himself.

Read More: Declan John told he can leave Wanderers.

“I have not got a bad word to say about him, he has been fantastic for this football club and he has been a big part of my journey, a big part of the club’s journey,” he said.

“But things happen in football and time changes things, we have evolved as a team, so whatever happens we will wish him well.”

Wanderers begin preparations this morning for Sunday’s FA Cup game against Premier League Luton Town and Evatt is optimistic that Iredale will be available after getting the all-clear from medical staff.

“I would think he will be available for the weekend,” he said. “The knee is settled, the swelling has reduced, the scan was very positive so I am hopeful he will be back in training this week.”