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Wanderers boss Ian Evatt issues update on summer signing Eoin Toal

Wanderers boss Ian Evatt issues update on summer signing Eoin Toal
Wanderers boss Ian Evatt issues update on summer signing Eoin Toal

Wanderers boss Ian Evatt isn’t planning to throw summer signing Eoin Toal into “a sink or swim scenario”.

The defender is yet to make his first appearances for the Whites after joining from Derry City due to an ankle issue.

Evatt reckons it won’t be long before fans get to see Toal in action but maintains that he is a signing for the long-term.

“I don’t think he’ll be too long to be honest. But it’ll be a gradual process. He’s not going to be thrown in to the first team straight away in a sink or swim scenario,” said the Bolton chief.

“We’ve signed Eoin for the long term, and we need to let him build up his tolerance to our training level and also his understanding of how we play - what’s required from our centre backs in and out of possession, because it’s a tough place to play for us.

“You have to defend and be happy defending one-v-one in large spaces and large areas and also handle the ball in tight areas.

“We think he can do it, that’s why we’ve signed him, but he’s going to take time to get used to what we do.

“That [intense work] hasn’t started yet. At the moment we’re just concentrating on physical data, physical fitness.

“He just needs to be fit enough to be able to do it first and foremost and then once that’s there we can then layer up the technical detail.”

Wanderers are back in action this afternoon with a trip to Vale Park to take on newly-promoted Port Vale, and Evatt says his players need to “concentrate on our own performance”.

He added: “They’ll be hurting from the last league game. They got beat heavily at Exeter, so there’s going to be a reaction there and at home, they’re always a force.

“It’s always a difficult game, so we know what’s coming. We just have to concentrate on our own performance and if we can get to the levels that we can get to then I’m confident we can get the right result.”

Elias Kachunga and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson were both on target during the 5-1 win against Salford City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

Dapo Afolayan and Amadou Bakayoko also impressed against Wycombe last weekend, and Dion Charles is also expected to return from a thigh strain in the near future.

Evatt is delighted with the attacking options in the Bolton squad and hopes they will continue to give him a selection headache in the coming weeks.

“Every team wants a 20 goal a season striker, but if you can share the goals around it makes people’s lives a lot easier,” the manager explained.

“I’m really happy with the forward players we’ve got. They’re all in good form at the moment.

“I thought Kacha was absolutely outstanding against Salford, probably his best game in a Bolton shirt to be honest.

“The pre-season has really helped him. He’s fit, sharp, ready to go, but they’re all in good form and they’re all going to be needed so get them firing, get them scoring and hopefully we’ll score many goals this season.”