Burnden Aces

Team News: Southend United v Bolton Wanderers

• February 19, 2021 | By Chris Mann
• Short URL: http://b-ac.es/81021

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• League Two, Southend United
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With momentum on their side, a 500-mile round trip to Southend United at the height of winter may well have come at the perfect time for Bolton.

Buoyed by their dramatic comeback victory at Mansfield Town on Wednesday, Wanderers are presently one of the form teams in League Two and enter the weekend just five points shy of the division's final play-off place - currently occupied by Salford City.

With three of the current bottom five to come over the course of the next week, it could well prove to be a season-defining spell for the Trotters if they hold realistic ambitions of mounting a promotion challenge in the final third of the campaign.

For the first time since taking charge of the club last summer, Ian Evatt has strength in depth and will be boosted on Saturday by the return of captain Antoni Sarcevic.

Sarcevic hasn't featured since picking up a groin injury in a defeat at Tranmere Rovers on January 23 but has successfully come through a week of training after previously being forced to stay away following a positive COVID-19 test.

Harry Brockbank has also returned to training following a groin strain of his own but is unlikely to be included as Evatt looks to manage his return carefully ahead of a busy period of matches.

Matt Gilks required treatment for a back injury in the midweek win at Mansfield but has shown no ill-effects in the days since and is set to continue ahead of both Billy Crellin and Lukas Jensen in goal.

A number of players will be assessed for fatigue ahead of the game, with anybody deemed to be less than 100% rested in favour of more suitable options.

Bolton Wanderers: from: Crellin, Gilks, Jensen, Alexander, Jones, Santos, Delaney, Greenidge, Brockbank, Baptiste, John, Jackson, Williams, Comley, Sarcevic, Maddison, Darcy, Tutte, Isgrove, Thomason, Lee, Elbouzedi, Delfouneso, Doyle, Miller, Gnahoua, Afolayan

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