Bolton Wanderers are dealing with significant injury concerns as they prepare for a crucial League One clash against table-topping Birmingham City on Tuesday night.
Club captain George Thomason, defender Eoin Toal, and goalkeeper Nathan Baxter are all in doubt, adding uncertainty to the Wanderers’ lineup for the trip to St Andrew’s.
Injury Woes for Wanderers
George Thomason, a key figure for Bolton, suffered a hamstring injury during training on Friday, making his availability for the Birmingham match highly doubtful. The absence of Thomason would be a major blow, as the midfielder plays a pivotal role in the team’s structure.
Further adding to Bolton’s injury concerns are Eoin Toal and Nathan Baxter, both of whom missed Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Burton Albion. Toal, who returned from international duty with Northern Ireland, reported dizziness following his involvement in matches against Belarus and Bulgaria. While there has been no official confirmation of a concussion diagnosis, the possibility has raised concerns over whether he will face a mandatory rest period.
Baxter, meanwhile, has been sidelined with a muscular injury sustained before the international break. Despite hopes that he would return to training before the weekend, his availability for Tuesday remains uncertain.
Assistant manager Stephen Crainey, who handled post-match duties after the Burton game, acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the trio.
“We’re hoping for a clean bill of health but we won’t really know about the players until Monday morning. Regardless, we go to Birmingham and need to put on a good performance,” said Crainey.
He added that Thomason’s injury appears to be hamstring-related, but the full extent of the issue is still unknown. Baxter’s fitness is also being monitored closely by the club’s medical team.
Bolton Look to Build on Positive Form
Despite the injury concerns, Bolton head into the Birmingham clash in good form, having won four of their last five matches. Their 2-1 win over Burton Albion, with goals from Aaron Collins and Randell Williams, pushed Wanderers into 11th place in the table, just one point outside the play-off spots and six points off second-placed Wrexham, with a game in hand.
Birmingham City, however, will be a tough test. The League One leaders have dropped points in just two of their first 10 games this season and are riding high after spending £30 million on new signings in the summer transfer window. St Andrew’s is expected to be a vibrant atmosphere, with over 30,000 fans in attendance.
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