Boss Ian Evatt reported mixed injury news as Wanderers continued their pre-season build-up with victory at Chorley, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites eased to a 4-0 success over their non-league neighbours to win the Harold Taylor Memorial Trophy.
Defender Jack Iredale made a welcome return from injury as a second-half substitute at Victory Park on a night midfielder Josh Sheehan was given an evening off after racking up the minutes for Wales and Wanderers over the summer.
Striker Dion Charles could also figure for the first time in pre-season at some point in Wanderers’ up-coming home double-header against Fiorentina and Stoke City but on the downside, defender Gethin Jones and, possibly, midfielder Kyle Dempsey are facing spells on the sidelines with knee issues.
“Geth probably requires some surgery,” confirmed Evatt. “I don't know how long that's going to be post-surgery but it's not great news.
“Kyle's scan was clear but the knee, symptomatically, doesn't look like the scan’s reporting, so we’re just still investigating with that at the moment so we’ll see where we stand.
“Dion is returning to training on Thursday, Chris Forino will be early next week, Jack is back now and Luke Southwood is back, so things are developing and improving all the time.
“It's important we don't pick up any more injuries and myself and Chris (Markham) are working incredibly hard to try and bring in some new recruits as well that we have highlighted.”
The absence of a handful of senior players again gave opportunities to some of the Wanderers’ young players and B Team members at Chorley.
And all took them, with Nelson Khumbeni getting on the scoresheet to add to penalties from Aaron Morley and Victor Adeboyejo and an own-goal early in the second half when the score was 1-0.
Khumbeni fired home from teenager Ben Andreucci’s pass before youngster Trevon Bryan was tripped following another good forward run to allow Adeboyejo to complete the scoring on a successful night from the penalty spot.
“It was a good workout,” added Evatt. “Some of the players I thought looked a bit jaded but we've done a lot of work so far and had some good opponents.
“Chorley asked us one or two questions but we won the game, which is important, and we've highlighted some areas for improvement again, which is always the case and the way in pre-season. But I think, generally, we're in a pretty good place and looking forward to the game on Friday (against Fiorentina).
“Probably the best things to come out of tonight really are that we didn't pick up any more injuries, so everyone is in good health, and the young ones did themselves no harm at all, especially in the second half.
“I thought young Trev, Ben Andreucci, Sonny (Sharples-Ahmed) and Nelson all showed up really well and showed that they are continuing to impress and improve which is important for us.”
Watch post-match reaction from manager Ian Evatt and returning defender Jack Iredale on Wanderers TV HERE