.png){kind=small}
Luton Town welcome Bolton Wanderers to Kenilworth Road on Sunday afternoon, in what will be the first competitive fixture between the two teams since 1997. The Trotters ran out as 6-2 winners during an FA Cup replay, following what was a 1-1 draw in Bedfordshire.
Despite the lack of meetings between the two, there is certainly somewhat of a shared pathway that both clubs have embarked on in fairly recent times. Bolton were seemingly on the brink of extinction in 2019, however, Sharon Brittan's Football Ventures group completed the takeover of the Greater Manchester club and they have been on an upward trajectory ever since.
Sitting pretty in second place in League One, Ian Evatt, who took charge of Bolton back in 2o2o, will be eager to rightfully return the Trotters to the Championship. Playing an eye-catching style of attacking football, welcoming a squad with a real mix of youthful talent and experience, and benefitting from alignment right the way through the club, this fixture is certainly tougher than just a League One outfit testing themselves against Premier League opposition.
As for Rob Edwards, there are selection dilemmas galore as he looks to balance the need to get minutes into players currently on the fringes of things, welcome back individuals from injury and, most importantly, win a game of football.
In his pre-Bolton press conference, Edwards confirmed that he has “17 or 18 genuine starters" all battling for a starting spot in Sunday's line-up, which makes the job of predicting who will start that little bit harder.
There is also a question surrounding the formation and whether or not the 5-2-3 (3-4-3) that has been predominantly opted for in the Premier League, will be the way to go considering how the squad currently looks.
In an attempt to impose ourselves more against lower league opposition, and with several defensive absences still to account for, it would be no real shock if Edwards opts for a 4-2-3-1 formation, a system that he has deployed on a few occasions this season, particularly in-game.
How could Luton Town line up for the visit of Bolton Wanderers in the 3rd round of the FA Cup?
In an attempt to impose ourselves more against lower league opposition, and with several defensive absences still to account for, it would be no real shock if Edwards opts for a 4-2-3-1 formation, a system that he has deployed on a few occasions this season, particularly in-game.
Speaking to the press about the health of his squad, Hatters boss Edwards confirmed that it is just Marvelous Nakamba and Tom Lockyer who are unavailable, although he did allude to the point that Sunday's game might come too soon for the defensive duo of Reece Burke and Dan Potts, who have recently returned to training.
Another difficult decision that Edwards will be mulling over will be whether or not to rest individuals for the return of Premier League action next week. Vital cogs in Town's Premier League XI have been the likes of Ross Barkley, Elijah Adebayo, Alfie Doughty and Thomas Kaminski, whilst the likes of Teden Mengi, Gabe Osho and Sambi Lokonga have also been very influential.
Possible Luton Town line-up (4-2-3-1):
Krul;
Kabore, Anderson, Bell, Giles;
Mpanzu, Clark
Ogbene, Chong, Morris;
Woodrow
Krul has seemingly taken on the role of cup goalkeeper, with Thomas Kaminski opening up no opportunities for the Dutchman to break into the Premier League XI thus far.
Issa Kabore is set to head to the African Cup of Nations with Burkina Faso but will be available for Sunday's clash, and the lack of depth in the RB/RWB position could pave the way for the Manchester City loanee to feature here.
The central defensive picture is a difficult one. You would think that Mads Andersen is a given as he continues his recovery. However, with this game potentially coming a little too early for Potts and Burke, and in the absence of Lockyer, options remain limited. Incredibly enough, 21-year-old Teden Mengi has perhaps emerged as the most important central defender and could be protected, whilst Osho's injury record makes his inclusion a slight worry, meaning it could be Amari'i Bell who partners the Great Dane.
Doughty has been fantastic in Town colours thus far this season and is vitally integral to Edwards' plans for the rest of the campaign, meaning a rest may be due. This makes the selection of Ryan Giles, who has returned some strong performances of late, a rather easy one.
Barkley and Lokonga have looked fantastic alongside one another in recent weeks, and for that reason, Edwards may see this as a partnership to protect for Burnley. Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu could return to starting XI action as a result with Wembley hero Jordan Clark also in need of a run out you would think.
Chiedozie Ogbene has enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign but an injury, combined with fantastic form shown by Jacob Brown and Andros Townsend, has meant that it has been difficult for the summer signing to pave his way back into the starting XI, meaning Sunday could be a great opportunity for him.
Tahith Chong has looked bright, exciting and creative all season but his performance from the bench against Chelsea was perhaps his strongest showing yet, and subsequently, he could feature centrally. Now, in an ideal world, Carlton Morris would feature up top on Sunday, following Adebayo's continued stint as a starting striker. However, the versatile Morris, who changed the game at Sheffield United with two goal contributions from crossing positions, might be deployed on the left.
This could give Cauley Woodrow an opportunity up front, who has been called upon from the bench a few times this season.