WANDERERS’ starting XI has been the same for the last three games, but Ian Evatt insists that can all change very quickly.

The Bolton boss’ current side of choice has picked up a hat-trick of League Two wins with the current shadow squad also getting the better of Newcastle United’s Under-21s in the Papa John’s Trophy.

That means after managing 22 summer signings, some bad luck with injury and patchy form, Evatt appears to have found a winning formula with the Whites now up to 13th in League Two and three points shy of the play-off places ahead of welcoming struggling Southend to the UniBol on Saturday.

But for the Wanderers head coach, it is all about strength in depth.

Evatt said: “At the moment it does (pick itself) because we’re playing well and winning football matches.

“But as I’ve said before the most important people are not the 11 playing but the lads outside the 11.

“The first 11 are easy to keep happy it’s the others we rely on to keep the standards high in training and to keep driving standards in the changing room because the starting XI know that if they’re not playing very well there’s players ready to take their place.

“In football things can change quickly and those lads have to be ready to take their chance when they get it.”

Two of the players pushing for a spot are Shaun Miller and Lloyd Isgrove, both now up to speed having arrived at the back end of the transfer window.

The pair came off the bench in Tuesday night’s win at Scunthorpe as they did in the victories against Salford City and Stevenage.

“They’re very good players and we’ve had to look after them and manage them because they were late into us and as you can see from the way we play, it’s high intensity and you need to be fit otherwise you’ll break down,” Evatt said.

“We’re managing their minutes really well but they’ve got real quality and the front lads know that if they’re not at it those two can come in and take their place at any time.”

One change that came at the start of the run of victories was a switch in goal, Matt Gilks again between the sticks against his former club on Tuesday night as Billy Crellin watches on from the bench.

“He tends to make the saves he makes look better than they actually are but that’s his age I think,” Evatt said with a smile.

“He’s made a huge difference to us with his communication.

“I don’t think all season our keepers have been overworked. We don’t concede that many chances to the opposition it’s just when he’s called upon he needs to make sure he’s fully concentrating and he makes the save when we need him to.

“Back to front, the effort, desire and commitment to come away from home again, another journey, is very pleasing.”