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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
John McDougall

Lee, Isgrove, Dempsey, Sheehan - Expected return dates for Bolton Wanderers injured players

Ian Evatt has a nearly fully fit squad to choose from as the climax to the season approaches for Bolton Wanderers.

Wanderers are 11th in League One after achieving automatic promotion from League Two last season.

Of late, Wanderers have been on a late charge with the aim of reaching the play-offs in their first campaign back in the third tier of English football.

READ MORE: The 12 big contract decisions looming on horizon at Bolton Wanderers ahead of next season

However, a defeat against fellow top six hopefuls Plymouth Argyle last weekend, coupled with results from midweek encounters in the division, has left Evatt's side 11 points from the play-offs.

They have eight games left to go in their season and with the gap now back in double figures, Wanderers are considered more outsiders for the play-offs this campaign.

It is still mathematically possible to reach the top six, of course, and there is a lot of football to be played between now and the end of April, so Wanderers will be focused on picking up as many points as possible in the weeks to come and see where it takes them.

Evatt has an almost fully fit squad to choose from heading into the final stages of the season, but there are still some members of the Wanderers squad who are unavailable for selection for one reason or another.

Some should be back very soon, while others have the start of next season as the likely time when we will next see them back in action in a Bolton shirt.

Here, we list those Wanderers players who are currently not available for selection and when they could potentially return to action.

Kieran Lee

The experienced midfielder has recently returned to training after having an operation on a heel spur problem which was causing the former Sheffield Wednesday man discomfort.

Lee has been doing light work on the grass and running of late and Evatt said before the loss to Plymouth that the midfielder was not too far away from a return.

Potential return date: Wigan Athletic, April 2

Kyle Dempsey

The January transfer deadline day signing has missed the last three games owing to a combination of illness and a groin problem.

Dempsey returned to training on Tuesday and could be in contention for a return to action this weekend against Crewe Alexandra.

Potential return date: Crewe Alexandra, March 19

Marlon Fossey

The Fulham loanee limped off towards the end of the loss to Plymouth Argyle last weekend with twinges in his knee.

Evatt was hopeful that the wing-back's injury was not serious, but Fossey was poised to be assessed earlier this week and it will be hoped that he will be back in action this weekend.

Potential return date: Crewe Alexandra, March 19

Lloyd Isgrove

Winger has been out since late November due to a torn hamstring, but returned to being back on the grass in February.

Evatt has expected Isgrove to be back training with his team-mates by the end of March, meaning he could be back in early April should it go well.

Potential return date: Wigan Athletic, April 2, or Portsmouth, April 5

Gethin Jones

The Wanderers vice-captain has not been absent due to injury, but on compassionate leave recently following the death of his mother Karen and has not been considerered for selection since.

The funeral recently took place and Evatt has previously suggested that the defender will be considered for selection once again after that has taken place.

Potential return date: Crewe Alexandra, March 19

Josh Sheehan

Summer signing from Newport County was ruled out for the second half of this season after suffering a ruptured ACL in November.

The Wales international had a successful operation on the injury and has been on recovering since then, but has a target to hit the ground running in pre-season ahead of 2022/23 and has been removed from Wanderers' EFL squad list for the remainder of this campaign.

Potential return date: Summer 2022

Andrew Tutte

Midfielder has played only once this season in the Papa John's Trophy against Port Vale and has been out of action since September due to a torn hamstring.

That problem has now healed, but has suffered setbacks in his comeback due to picking up smaller knocks and niggles which have put him back in his comeback efforts.

Potential return date: Unknown

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