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He is the not-so-secret weapon who just loves his home comforts and Wanderers boss Neil Lennon is banking on Zach Clough lighting up the Macron Stadium again tonight.
Saturday’s matchwinner does not turn 20 until Sunday but is already making a name for himself in the Championship scoring stakes after netting his fifth league goal in seven outings against Brighton.
Lennon admits it is hard to leave out the young star at present – particularly on home turf where all Clough’s senior goals have come to date.
His knack of finding the back of the net has seen the precocious talent put his name on the map and make Clough a target for defences coming up against the Whites.
But, as he prepares his side to take on Reading, Lennon is confident the teenager can deal with the limelight and the added attention that comes with his form.
The Wanderers boss told The Bolton News: “A lot of people are complimenting him and commenting on his performances so clubs and defenders are growing more and more aware of him.
“It’s a great test for him. The kid’s got real talent.
“His goal on Saturday was fantastic footwork and a lovely finish.
“His all-round game is good and getting better and better all the time.
“There will be dips here and there and we understand that with young players.
“But he’s made a fantastic start to his career so far.
“His goal at the weekend was so important to us.”
Lennon played Clough in a different role against Brighton with Emile Heskey and Adam Le Fondre also in the starting XI.
And he says the youngster is intelligent enough to be able to adapt and play a variety of roles – particularly the more he evolves as a senior player.
Lennon added: “He will learn more and more the more football he gets and on the training ground.
“He will watch guys like Emile and Eidur and pick little bits of information up from them as well.
“He will maybe learn to play in different positions as well should the occasion arise that he may not be having an influence on a game because people are more wary of him.
“Can he be flexible in terms of playing in different positions? I think so.
“That is something he will grow to learn as he goes along.”
Clough was the matchwinner at the weekend against another team in and around Wanderers in the shape of Brighton to give Lennon a much-needed three points.
And the boss says tonight’s clash against a Reading team also near them in the bottom half of the Championship table is just as important going into a weekend without a game.
Lennon said: “It was a sticky game on Saturday and there wasn’t much in it either way.
“I would imagine tonight could be much the same.
“There’s no doubt winning at the weekend has given us a huge shot of confidence going into the Reading game.
“Reading are down and around there with us.
“Just like the Brighton game at the weekend, it is a big game for both teams.
“They have an FA Cup quarter final on Saturday so whether that’s been a distraction for them I don’t know.
“They had a difficult fixture at the weekend because Nottingham Forest are flying at the minute and they lost 3-0 to them.
“So we have to be on our guard.
“I’m sure Steve (Clarke) will have them well set up because he’s a very good coach and they have some quality players in there.
“They can hurt you on any given day.
“At home, though, our form has been excellent.
“I think it’s important we try to take the game to them as much as we can.
“We just need a few more wins now to consolidate where we want to be.”
Source
Saturday’s matchwinner does not turn 20 until Sunday but is already making a name for himself in the Championship scoring stakes after netting his fifth league goal in seven outings against Brighton.
Lennon admits it is hard to leave out the young star at present – particularly on home turf where all Clough’s senior goals have come to date.
His knack of finding the back of the net has seen the precocious talent put his name on the map and make Clough a target for defences coming up against the Whites.
But, as he prepares his side to take on Reading, Lennon is confident the teenager can deal with the limelight and the added attention that comes with his form.
The Wanderers boss told The Bolton News: “A lot of people are complimenting him and commenting on his performances so clubs and defenders are growing more and more aware of him.
“It’s a great test for him. The kid’s got real talent.
“His goal on Saturday was fantastic footwork and a lovely finish.
“His all-round game is good and getting better and better all the time.
“There will be dips here and there and we understand that with young players.
“But he’s made a fantastic start to his career so far.
“His goal at the weekend was so important to us.”
Lennon played Clough in a different role against Brighton with Emile Heskey and Adam Le Fondre also in the starting XI.
And he says the youngster is intelligent enough to be able to adapt and play a variety of roles – particularly the more he evolves as a senior player.
Lennon added: “He will learn more and more the more football he gets and on the training ground.
“He will watch guys like Emile and Eidur and pick little bits of information up from them as well.
“He will maybe learn to play in different positions as well should the occasion arise that he may not be having an influence on a game because people are more wary of him.
“Can he be flexible in terms of playing in different positions? I think so.
“That is something he will grow to learn as he goes along.”
Clough was the matchwinner at the weekend against another team in and around Wanderers in the shape of Brighton to give Lennon a much-needed three points.
And the boss says tonight’s clash against a Reading team also near them in the bottom half of the Championship table is just as important going into a weekend without a game.
Lennon said: “It was a sticky game on Saturday and there wasn’t much in it either way.
“I would imagine tonight could be much the same.
“There’s no doubt winning at the weekend has given us a huge shot of confidence going into the Reading game.
“Reading are down and around there with us.
“Just like the Brighton game at the weekend, it is a big game for both teams.
“They have an FA Cup quarter final on Saturday so whether that’s been a distraction for them I don’t know.
“They had a difficult fixture at the weekend because Nottingham Forest are flying at the minute and they lost 3-0 to them.
“So we have to be on our guard.
“I’m sure Steve (Clarke) will have them well set up because he’s a very good coach and they have some quality players in there.
“They can hurt you on any given day.
“At home, though, our form has been excellent.
“I think it’s important we try to take the game to them as much as we can.
“We just need a few more wins now to consolidate where we want to be.”
Source
