Bolton Wanderers team news - captain returns but Covid frustration continues

ANTONI Sarcevic should make his return to action at FC United this weekend â€" but the frustration over Eoin Doyle’s absence through Covid isolation continues for Wanderers boss Ian Evatt.

Scans on Sarcevic’s hamstring on Monday showed no damage after he had limped out of the friendly win at Longridge.

“Sarce is right to start,” Evatt said. “He wanted to play on Tuesday.

“There is nothing that showed up at all on the scan. He worked really hard today and they have run their socks off, so he should be absolutely fine.”

Ali Crawford has also come through his first training session today since returning with a calf problem in the summer, so could play some part at Broadhurst Park.

The absence of Doyle and Dennis Politic, however, has left Evatt pondering the possible impact of the virus on his side in the coming weeks and months.

“Eoin in very frustrated,” he said. “He also said he has got the most anti-bodies you could possibly have. He is double vaccinated and has still got it, so he is hoping that he is not going to struggle any more, which is good news.”

Rising Covid rates and the impending relaxation of restrictions on July 19 leaves Evatt wondering what the future holds when positive tests equal a 10-day isolation period â€" but clubs will still be bound by the EFL’s protocols to limit transmission of the virus.

“It is potentially worse this season than it was last season because of the nature of where we’re at and the freedom and the release day,” he said.

“The virus is extremely prevalent in society at the moment. I think I know more people with it now that I have done at any stage of the pandemic, so that shows you where we’re at and I think it’s going to be challenging. I don’t know how it’s going to play out.

“We’ve got to try and avoid it as best we can but now everything’s open and rules are relaxed, you could pick it up going to the shop, going to the petrol station, doing the day-to-day necessities and then it puts you out for 10 days, potentially without having the double vaccine.

“Obviously we can’t make people be vaccinated. We can’t make them be double vaccinated so it’s a personal choice. We’ll just have to try and adapt and overcome as best we can.”

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