Bolton Wanderers have suffered a huge blow ahead of their potential title showdown with Portsmouth on Monday night following the news that striker Dan Nlundulu is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.
After impressing in a loan move at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in the second half of last season, the Trotters swooped to make the 24-year-old’s deal a permanent one in the summer on a three-year contract. However, the form of front two Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo has limited his minutes on the pitch.
Despite featuring in all 18 of Bolton’s League One fixtures to date, the majority of these have come from the substitute’s bench and he has 392 minutes of league action to his name. However, recent weeks have been much improved for the former Southampton man. The attacker grabbed a goal and an assist in the 7-0 win over Exeter City at the end of last month before hitting a brace in their impressive 5-1 victory over Harrogate Town in the FA Cup second round last weekend.
Disaster struck in midweek though when he picked up a hamstring injury in the EFL Trophy triumph against Port Vale, a game in which he missed a late penalty. Subsequent scans have revealed the worst, with manager Ian Evatt confirming the news. Via Bolton News, the 42-year-old said:
“It isn’t good. We are looking months rather than weeks and that’s a big disappointment for him and for us.
“The fact he has been in good form makes it even tougher to deal with for him, he had been getting to be the player I knew he could be.
“This is a family and when one of us hurts, we all hurt. We will help him through a tough time and he has taken it to heart.
“He is an emotional guy and we all think the world of him. We will rally around him and give him all the support he needs. I am sure he will be back stronger.”
No timescale has been put on Nlundulu’s return as of yet, but there will be a hope that he will feature again this season as the Lancashire club target a spot in next season’s Championship.
Writer’s View
It’s always a blow to lose any member of the first team squad for an extended period and Ian Evatt will be devastated by this latest news. Whereas Charles and Adeboyejo are the first choice attacking pairing, an injury to either one could prove disastrous for their promotion bid.
It will be interesting to see if Bolton now decide to dip into the transfer market next month to replace Nlundulu, although this is likely to be in the form of a loan.
Head of Writing
