Bolton Wanderers Face Selection Dilemmas Ahead of Reading Clash

Jordan Hartwell

Published: February 17, 2026 2:45 PM ET

Bolton Wanderers are gearing up for a crucial encounter against Reading as they navigate injury challenges and squad selections. With an eye on promotion, the team looks to extend their momentum from recent outings.

Selection Dilemmas Ahead of Reading Clash

Wanderers have enjoyed a successful run, securing eight points from their last four away matches. Key victories against Wigan and Wimbledon have bolstered their position in the promotion race. As they prepare to face Reading, selection issues arise due to injuries and the return of some players.

Current Team News

Bolton faces no new injury concerns, yet Amario Cozier-Duberry and Marcus Forss are both unavailable due to knee and hamstring injuries, respectively. However, Josh Sheehan has returned to the squad, providing a boost. Johnny Kenny and Ruben Rodrigues made their debuts in the previous game, showcasing depth in the lineup.

Josh Sheehan – Returns to squad
Amario Cozier-Duberry – Out (knee injury)
Marcus Forss – Out (hamstring injury)
Johnny Kenny – Debut off the bench
Ruben Rodrigues – Debut off the bench

Meanwhile, Theirry Gale, Max Conway, and Mason Burstow are all fit for selection after missing the last match. The Royals, Bolton’s opponents, will be without Daniel Kyerewaa for a few weeks but are seeing progress from Will Keane and Derrick Williams.

Reading’s Recent Form

Reading has been formidable lately, winning three of their last four matches. They recently captured a thrilling victory over Wycombe, highlighted by a hat trick from Jack Marriott. This performance has propelled them within three points of sixth-place Huddersfield, albeit with an extra fixture played.

Head-to-Head Record

The historical matchup between Bolton Wanderers and Reading has been competitive, with 42 encounters resulting in:

Bolton Wins: 16
Draws: 11
Reading Wins: 15

This season, the points were shared in a prior fixture at the Toughsheet Stadium. Andre Garcia’s deflected strike leveled the match after Mason Burstow opened the scoring. Last season, Bolton lost 1-0 at Reading due to a late penalty goal by Harvey Knibbs. Their last victory at the Select Car Leasing Stadium was back in August 2018.

Match Viewing Information

Fans unable to attend the game can watch the action unfold live on Sky Sports, starting at 8 PM. This fixture carries significant weight in both teams’ aspirations for promotion.

As Bolton Wanderers prepare for this pivotal clash, they will look to solidify their position in the league and navigate the selection dilemmas that this match presents. The outcome could be critical as they strive for promotion.