Bolton Wanderers striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson has been ruled out of the Carabao Cup second round clash against Aston Villa due to a hamstring problem.
Wanderers host the Premier League side at the University of Bolton Stadium tomorrow evening with a place in the third round up for grabs. The reward for victory in the televised clash could be facing a top flight team involved in European competitions such as Liverpool or Manchester City.
Like Bolton, Villa go into the game on the back of a defeat. Gerrard's side suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday, which leaves them 13th in the Premier League table.
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Bodvarsson came off the bench in the loss against Sheffield Wednesday over the weekend. All eyes are now on the clash against the Villa.
But the Iceland international will miss the game against the Villa Park side after picking up the problem in training. He is poised to be out of action for up to one to two weeks.
Evatt said: “Jon has got a slight hamstring strain, which he has picked up today. It is disappointing because we can’t really get a free run with him at the moment. He will miss the game. But other than that, everyone is available. We are ready to go.
“It is tough because we just can’t get a free run with him at the moment. Rico has suffered with that a little bit as well. We just can’t get that clear path and clear run with him at the moment. But that is football and it is a long season, it is still only August.
"He doesn’t need to worry or beat himself up or anything. He will come back bigger, better, stronger and be a big player for us.”
Three players who will not be involved against the Villans but will be in action for Bolton's B team tomorrow will be defender Eoin Toal, winger Lloyd Isgrove and midfielder Josh Sheehan. Wanderers take on Blackpool at Bamber Bridge's Sir Tom Finney Stadium in the EFL Central League.
Toal has not featured since arriving in July following his move from Derry City. Sheehan and Isgrove meanwhile are continuing their comebacks from injury, after playing for the club's B team in the win over Fleetwood Town last week.
Evatt said on the trio: "I don’t think too much longer but they need some more minutes before they are ready to step into the first team.
“I am excited. It is going to be good – a good challenge and a good test – to see how we select the team and how they do and how well they come back really. I was pleased with their comeback in the B Team last week and hopefully they will progress again tomorrow.”
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