Ian Evatt admits it will get harder and harder to keep all of his Bolton Wanderers squad happy following the 2-0 win against MK Dons with more returnees on the horizon.
Wanderers took the lead when Gethin Jones was brought down in the box by Dawson Devoy. Dion Charles stepped up to thump home from the penalty spot and give the Whites the advantage.
The visitors doubled their lead after the break when Jones rose highest to head home from Jack Iredale's free-kick. The win could have been by a greater margin but Wanderers picked up a valuable three points which sees them rise to fifth in the table.
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The likes of striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, midfielder Josh Sheehan and defenders Owen Beck and Eoin Toal are nearing fitness and becoming available for selection. Evatt believes it is getting more difficult to keep all of them happy but the squad's competitiveness has been very much by design.
He said: “It’s getting harder and harder. Jon is back Saturday, Josh Sheehan is almost back, so it’s getting more challenging. Eoin Toal is almost back, Owen Beck is getting fitter with every day that passes by so we’ve got a really good squad and I’m not going to be able to keep them all happy.
“I get and understand that, but I do expect a level of professionalism and it’s down to me then to pick the right team for the right occasion and that’s a different occasion on Saturday and a different challenge.
"I think there’s lots of hard work that has gone into building this squad. Hours and hours, not just myself but from Chris Markham and the recruitment team behind him. We’ve tried to leave no stone unturned.
"I think we’ve got good value in the squad for what we pay and that’s what we want. That’s smart, it’s strategic, we’re trying to be sustainable, and we’ve got some really good options but it’s not by chance, there’s lots of hard work that’s gone into making and building this squad.”
Next up for Wanderers is entertaining Peterborough United at home. Posh were relegated from the Championship last season and are another side among several who will have promotion aspirations this campaign.
But Evatt has vowed Wanderers will not get carried away with the three points at Stadium MK and is already focusing on the visit of Posh to the University of Bolton Stadium.
He said: “We’re not getting carried away. Tonight is three points and a good performance. But the games come thick and fast and we now have to regroup, refocus, re energise for Saturday.
“We’re looking forward to that game in front of our home crowd, but now we’ll enjoy tonight, long trip home, great to get three points but we’ll refocus and make sure we’re ready for Saturday.”
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