Steven Schumacher left to sweat the fitness of one his Bolton Wanderers new boys
20.08.26, 17:00 Updated 20.08.26, 17:45 3 Minute Read
Matt Bottomley
Steven Schumacher confirmed that Luca Stephenson is a doubt for Saturday's Championship game at Queens Park Rangers.
The full-back started against Preston North End last weekend and was one of Bolton Wanderers best performers in defence, before limping off late in the game.
The Wanderers boss admitted there was some concern for Stephenson, who had struggled to train this week. The team hope he can complete a full training tomorrow, alleviating the need for a fitness check. Should the former Liverpool man fail to do so, they will look to others to fill the vacant right-back spot for QPR.
“We have got a little concern over Luca, he came off after making that tackle with a little bit of a sore and stiff thigh. We'll see if we get him in full training tomorrow (Friday), and if we do, then we'll be OK. But if we don't, then we'll have to figure out who plays that right-back.”Stephen Schumacher
Schumacher has a number of options that can play at right-back, but if it is not to be for Stephenson, it would mean changing his gameplan.
Gaizka Larrazabal is the most obvious option, but the Spaniard has played at right-wing for the last two games and it would ask the question of whether or not the Bolton boss is ready to trust Samuel Iling-Junior in the position from the off.
Lewis Brunt is another option, having played there from the bench last weekend, but he prefers to play centrally. The last option would be veteran Cyrus Christie, who is yet to play for the Wanderers yet this season.
Elsewhere Wanderers remain without Ruben Rodrigues, who signed a contract extension today, as the midfielder continues to recover from ligament damage in his knee.
Xavier Simons will serve the second of his three match ban following his red-card at Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup defeat that opened the season.
Ethan Erhahon, who returned from injury in the win over Preston, is ready to go once more, despite not featuring in pre-season. The midfielder spent much of the summer recovering from a knock that occurred in the play-offs but returned to play the full 90 minutes of the Championship opener and will likely be asked to do so again down at Loftus Road.
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Matt Bottomley A lifelong Bolton Wanderers fan, this club is the reason I began my journalism career. Since sitting in the stands as a kid over 20 years ago, I have gone on to work for the likes of the BBC and The Telegraph before everything led me back to here, to the football club I love.
