Injury update on new Bolton Wanderers signing Eoin Toal as patience urged with defender

Eoin Toal looks unlikely to feature for Bolton Wanderers in their League One season opener against Ipswich Town due to a slight ankle injury with the new defender backed to acclimatise to life at the Whites in time when up to speed.

The 23-year-old became the fourth summer signing at Wanderers this summer when he joined from League of Ireland outfit Derry City. He joined for an undisclosed fee and has joined Ian Evatt's side on a three-year deal.

He was last in action for the Candystripes in their Europa Conference League first qualifying road against Riga. The defender played through the pain for his now former club as they exited the competition 4-0 on aggregate.

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The former Northern Ireland under-21 international is not ready to make his Wanderers debut just yet owing to playing with an ankle problem of late, though Evatt said it is not a serious injury. The Bolton boss urged patience with the new signing and believes it will be a big step to make from the League of Ireland to League One, as Evatt says Toal will be given some time to get used to his new surroundings.

Evatt told the Manchester Evening News: “He’s not fit. He’s got a slight ankle injury at the moment which he’s been carrying for two or three weeks but Derry needed him to go through the pain barrier to try and get through in Europe, simple as that.

“Eoin’s the type of guy who can do it. It’s nothing serious at all, but it’s important that we give him some time because it’s a big step to go from that club and that division to what we do here and we want him to hit the ground running of course, but we also have to have patience.

“This is a longer term