Injured pair to miss out for Bolton while Tranmere struggle with six

Ahead of the Capital One Cup cash between Bolton Wanderers and Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park, injuries are playing a major part and will force both Dougie Freedman and Ronnie Moore into changes. While there were always likely to be lineup switches due to fitness, giving some players a chance, and protecting others, the absences will play a key role in the cup match.

Bolton Wanderers will continue to be without Chris Eagles, who has not played a match since opening day where he left the game against Burnley early following an ankle injury. Eagles has returned to training but was doubtful for the Queens Park Rangers match, ultimately missing out entirely. Freedman is a bit more than unlikely to risk him against Tranmere Rovers and will probably hold him out until this weekend's vital matchup with Blackburn Rovers.

Tim Ream, who showed his worth in that match at the weekend, playing in midfield, will also miss out. Ream suffered a hamstring knock midway through the second half and with Bolton trailing by a goal, he was taken off by the manager. Speaking to the Bolton News, Dougie said:

"That was Tim's first league game and, for me, he was man of the match.

"But I had to bring him off because he was feeling a bit of tightness in his hamstrings. I can't really risk Tim again.

"That will possibly give someone else an opportunity to play in the cup."

Darren Pratley is available for Wanderers once again after serving a one-match ban following a pair of yellow cards at Nottingham Forest. Bolton will be without Mark Davies and Stu Holden due to their very long-term injuries.

Bolton's opponents, Tranmere, are not without their own injury problems. Ronnie Moore will be without captain and midfielder James Wallace, as well as the forward pair of Akpo Sodje and Ryan Lowe, midfielder Joe Thompson, winger Andy Robinson, and defender Stephen Foster. In addition to that, Barnsley loanee Andrai Jones will miss out after picking up a red card in Rovers' 5-0 home loss against Peterborough at the weekend.