Bolton Wanderers could have just two senior outfield players available when they travel to Tranmere Rovers in League One on Saturday, The Bolton News have reported.

The worsening situation around the club comes after it was revealed that centre back Liam Edwards will miss the trip to Prenton Park due to an achilles problem, while 19-year-old midfielder Dennis Politic is also a doubt after aggravating a hip flexor problem during Botlon's 5-2 defeat at Rochdale in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

As a result, midfielders Jason Lowe and Luke Murphy are the only two outfield senior players from last season in the squad, while goalkeepers Remi Matthews and Ben Alnwick are also available.

Up until now, the club have called on players from their Under 18s and Under 23s squad to help fulfil their fixtures, but it is thought that there are growing concerns around the club about the heavy toll that the busy fixture schedule is taking on those players.

Having already played twice since last Saturday, Bolton will follow their trip to Tranmere this weekend by hosting Doncaster Rovers at the University of Bolton Stadium on Tuesday night, before facing Ipswich Town the following Saturday.

[ad_pod ]

The club is only allowed to add players to their squad if they are given permission to do so by the EFL, something they have yet to receive in their attempts to bring defender Jack Hobbs back to the club.

The Verdict

The situation at Bolton never ceases to amaze.

That being said, with a takeover of the club still yet to be completed, thus preventing any new signings, it does almost feel as though something like this was inevitably going to happen.

You have to admire the commitment of those still at the club in particular, and the way that those younger players especially have stepped in such difficult circumstances is hugely impressive, not least given the quality of their performances.

Even so, you can more than understand the concerns about the toll this will be taking on them, given the physicality and experience of the players they are coming up against, and you wonder just how they and the club will cope when the academy season begins again in just a few weeks time.