Three consecutive wins, without conceding a single goal, have given Bolton Wanderers’ season a timely lift after recent mixed fortunes.

Their EPL win over Everton was a prelude to FA Cup fourth and fifth round victories in the space of four days, which propelled Bolton into the last eight of a competition they last won in 1958.

However, they will have to plot their advance on Wembley without full-back Sam Ricketts, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in the FA Cup fourth round replay triumph at Wigan and will miss the remainder of the season.

And centre-back Zak Knight faces a lengthy lay-off after damaging knee ligaments in the Trotters 2-0 EPL win over Everton two weekends ago.

Bolton’s Scottish supremo Owen Coyle said of the injury to the 29-year-old Ricketts: “The likelihood is that he will be out for about six months.” But Coyle refused to blame Victor Moses, the Wigan player involved in the incident

He said: “It was very innocuous as he sustained the injury while tracking the winger.” And he added: “Sam will get all the help from the club that he requires, but we will now have to get on with everything.”

Knight’s injury, said Coyle, was “not as severe as we first thought but it’s fair to say he’ll be (out for) four to six weeks, which is a terrible loss.”

January transfer window signing David Wheater has taken Knight’s place in the starting line-up.

Bolton visit Newcastle United in the Premier League this coming Saturday.