PAPA JOHN'S TROPHY: BOLTON TARGET KNOCKOUT

Bolton Wanderers have the knockout stage of Papa John's Trophy in their sights if they can avoid defeat against Rochdale away from home on Tuesday night. At least a draw would be enough to take Bolton Wanderers into the next round of the competition.

In addition to a place in the knockout stage, Bolton Wanderers are also eyeing a perfect record with a win over Rochdale. Victory over their opponents will make it three wins from three games for the Trotters. They can achieve the feat of maximum nine points from three games for the first time since the competition was restructured five years ago.

Bolton Wanderers are former winners of Papa John's Trophy and they have reached the final two times. Their title triumph was as far back as 1989. The Trotters have done well in the competition this season till date as they try to end a 32-year drought. The line-up for the Rochdale is expected to change significantly from the one that lost to Portsmouth in League One at the weekend.
Ian Evatt is the Bolton Wanderers manager and he made as many as ten changes for the win over Liverpool u-21s at the start of last month when they were last in action as far as Papa John's Trophy is concerned. Evatt is expected to do something similar against Rochdale thereby paving the way for the likes of George Thomason, Liam Gordon, and Harry Brockbank to make the starting XI.
Liam Edwards is in line for first team football for the first time in almost two years ahead of the Rochdale game having featured in the reserve team's defeat to Preston North End last week. He has not played for the first team since January 2020. Brandon Comley is also expected to feature against Dale as being ineligible for League One fixtures does not extend to Papa John's Trophy.