WITH the January window looming and Ian Evatt already dropping hints about strengthening his squad, opportunity has knocked at the perfect time for one member of the Wanderers dressing room.

Andrew Tutte will be out of commission with a thigh injury for up to a month, leaving a midfield spot open for someone who wants to grab it with both hands.

Unfortunately for Evatt, the decision on who fills the defensive midfield role against Port Vale this Saturday is by no means an easy one, as neither of his senior options have played themselves into good form.

And that has left Wanderers fans to discuss whether this pre-Christmas run of fixtures could be the last chance for Tom White or Brandon Comley to show they can hold down a regular first team spot in the future.

Both White (471) and Comley (445) have had a similar number of minutes on the pitch for Wanderers this season and have the highest pass percentage completion in the squad.

According to Whoscored.com, Comley has found the target with 87 per cent of his passes thus far, slightly higher than the 85.2 per cent achieved by White.

The stat does not, however, reflect the problems both players have had in driving the team forward in possession, nor their ability to cover the back three against the ball defensively.

Comley, who topped the whole of League Two in pass completion last season whilst playing for Colchester United, started the campaign as one of the first names on the team-sheet after a decent pre-season.

He fell quickly out of favour, however, and has picked up four yellow cards in his nine appearances. Comley has also conceded 19 fouls – a total eclipsed only in the squad by Ryan Delaney, who has played three games more.

Some of those fouls have put Wanderers under pressure and if the 25-year-old is going to play himself into the team, then his discipline must surely improve.

White started the season as one of Bolton’s more consistent players but since returning from an injury sustained at Shrewsbury in the Papa John’s Trophy, appears to have had his confidence dented. A lack of dynamism on the ball was picked up on by supporters when he replaced Tutte in the first half against Southend and though Evatt appears to have faith in his ability – the two having previously worked together at Barrow – he will be looking for more consistency from the on-loan Blackburn youngsters.

Evatt said soon after White’s return to the team that he was still carrying a remnant of the knee injury which had previously kept him out, so Wanderers may hope that he is now moving back towards full fitness.

A wildcard may exist in the form of untested youngster George Thomason, who since being recalled from a loan spell at Bamber Bridge and making his league debut for Bolton in the Papa John’s Trophy last month, has not been part of the matchday squad.

The 19-year-old had picked up five yellow cards during his time in the Northern Premier League and has now served out his suspension. And by Evatt’s own insistence, he offers something different to the other options he has available.

Another youngster who will feel he has a shot is 17-year-old Regan Riley, whose performance off the bench after replacing White at Shrewsbury in October attracted plenty of positive attention.

Evatt has yet to bring the teenager regularly into the first team fold but has tipped him to have a good career at his current rate of progress.

It seems unlikely that Ronan Darcy will be drafted in for Tutte as Wanderers will be looking for a more defensive type to play alongside Antoni Sarcevic - but should Evatt feel a change in system is due against a Vale side that has been pretty exclusively 4-3-3 under John Askey this season, the academy graduate may be yet another option at his disposal.