Wanderers are walking gingerly with seasoned midfielder Scott Arfield, who has seen his playing schedule turned upside down in recent years.

The 35-year-old was used sparingly at the start of the League One season after joining from MLS club Charlotte FC, and he was completely rested in this week’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy encounter against Aston Villa’s Under-21.

Arfield relocated to the US from Rangers during the summer of 2023 and joined Bolton for their training camp in Portugal a year later.

The club is carefully controlling Ian Evatt’s football in the first few months to prevent excessive injuries. However, Evatt is certain that the former Canada international will play a significant role for Wanderers.

“Scott has obviously played consistently now for 18 months because the summer window overlaps with the MLS, so it is a lot for him to keep going and going,” the coach told The Bolton News.

“When we can give him a break, we give him some time since he hasn’t had it in a long time, which isn’t just or fair, and it won’t benefit him physically. He is a key player for us.

“We decided to rest him (against Villa) and give him a couple of days to rest and regroup with his family and come back ready to go again for Burton.”

Arfield has also recounted his rigorous schedule since opting to relocate from Scotland to Charlotte, and he concedes that his choice to retire from international football may extend his career at club level.

“It actually happened the other side [of my move to Charlotte] with Rangers, I had just short of two weeks off and then went straight into Charlotte mid-season,” he told me.

“I had a small vacation at Christmas there, from early November to January, and it gave me time to reflect before returning to Scotland.

“When I moved to Bolton, I was completely rejuvenated and didn’t require much of a break, and obviously, I’m no longer playing international football, so I can take holidays there as well. I believe you need that time for a break as you get older, therefore overseas holidays will be beneficial to me in the future.”

Evatt has allowed all of his players some time to recover over the weekend, and they will reconvene at Lostock on Monday morning to begin preparations for a crucial run of games leading into the November break.

Disappointed that they did not finish the season with a league win over Shrewsbury, the Bolton manager will find out early next week if he will be in the dugout for the game against Burton Albion on October 19, as an FA disciplinary charge hangs over his head.

“Saturday was a game we should have won, and what transpired after that stemmed from our displeasure with not winning.

“Obviously we have talked about it and we will wait for the outcome but all the focus has to be on the league now, that’s the bread and butter, so to speak.”

Scott Arfield was speaking on behalf of SkyBet Football.Please visit the website here.

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