Derby County’s promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers have been handed a vital boost ahead of the run-in with one of their key players closing in on a return.
Despite occupying second position in League One, Derby‘s campaign has been blighted by constant injury setbacks. A huge stroke of bad luck has hovered over Paul Warne‘s first-team squad this term with 11 players currently sidelined through injury.
The latest of those casualties is the most alarming after Nathaniel Mendez-Laing limped off in the second half of their 1-0 defeat to Northampton Town. Warne sounded downbeat about the 31-year-old’s condition after the game but will be sent for a scan to see if any damage was done to his hamstring.
Derby are praying to hear the best possible news as Mendez-Laing is irreplaceable after scoring eight and assisting 15 goals in the league. The former Cardiff City winger is having the campaign of his life and losing him for the final six matches could be the difference between automatic promotion and the play-offs.
While the Rams’ injury table is overflowing with problems, their promotion rivals Bolton are seeing their crucial players return at the perfect time.
Bolton goalkeeper Nathan Baxter is closing in on a return
Derby claimed a vital 1-0 victory over Bolton just over a week ago as Kane Wilson’s winner sent them four points clear of third.
In that exciting encounter at Pride Park, Wanderers manager Ian Evatt was without his influential goalkeeper Nathan Baxter who has been sidelined with a wrist injury since the 1-1 draw against Barnsley at the start of February.
The 25-year-old, however, is finally closing in on a return to action this week with Alan Nixon providing an update via his Patreon.
“Keeper Nathan Baxter is close to a Bolton return – and could even make his comeback this week,” Nixon wrote.
“Baxter has been missing for weeks with a hand problem but is now poised to return to training to help in the promotion push. The former Chelsea shot-stopper was a key part of Ian Evatt’s side and his influence will be a major boost to the team for a crunch run-in.”
Nathan Baxter’s importance to Bolton
While Derby’s squad are dropping like flies, Bolton are set to welcome back a key member of their first team at a crucial time and he could make all the difference.
The former Chelsea shot-stopper played a crucial role in the first half of the season, keeping an impressive 12 clean sheets in 28 matches.
Although Joel Coleman has deputized well in the absence of the Englishman, he doesn’t offer the same command or brilliant shot-stopping as Baxter and the statistics are telling of that.
In 11 matches without their number one, Bolton have claimed victory just four times and kept a measly two clean sheets in wins over Oxford United and Cambridge United.
With Baxter closing in on a return, the Trotters’ chances of winning automatic promotion have just increased.
Evatt’s side are four points behind Derby heading into the next round of matches. However, they do have a game in hand, so with everything still to play for, Bolton may have just gained the upper hand in the promotion race.
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