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Portugese youngster Rochinha could make a long-awaited Wanderers debut at Ipswich Town tonight as boss Neil Lennon continues his loan player balancing act.
The 19-year-old Benfica playmaker is yet to figure for the Whites following his January move from Lisbon.
But Lennon believes the time is now right to give the former Portugal Under-19 international his chance.
The Whites boss promised to shuffle his pack for the trip to Portman Road following Saturday’s 2-0 home win against Millwall with one eye on Saturday’s derby at Wigan Athletic.
And that shake-up could also see new boy Paddy McCarthy rested and Dorian Dervite return to the back line.
There is also an enforced change in midfield with Neil Danns beginning a two-match suspension for racking up 10 bookings this season.
That could open the door for Rochinha’s involvement, though Giles Coke could also stake a claim.
Lennon told The Bolton News: “Rochinha is coming into our thinking because he has been champing at the bit to be involved.
“Under the circumstances it has been difficult to throw him in but we may look at him. Training-wise and football-wise he has been very good.
"If we throw him in it might work, it might not. But the kid deserves an opportunity to be in the squad and around it. He is a talent.
“In an ideal world Rochinha would have played more. He understands that and his professionalism is very good.
"With Paddy McCarthy, it is something we will have to try and balance off going into a third game in a week.
“He has been a great acquisition and I wish I had got him in earlier. He has played well and is a good type.
“I may freshen that up because Dorian is fit after his knee problem.
"We will need to freshen it up anyway. It is a big ask to play Saturday and then travel to Ipswich for a Tuesday night game.”
Danns’ absence is a blow for the Whites and while Lennon concedes 10 bookings by mid-March is a lot, he does not want to take away the Liverpudlian’s combative side of the game.
The Whites boss said: "It was inevitable (Danns suspension) but 10 bookings is a lot.
“I do though want him to make tackles, I don't want him to shy away from them.
“We took him off on Saturday because we couldn't risk him getting sent off and losing him for longer.
"He is in there to make tackles and win the ball back.
“That's his job so he would be liable to pick up more bookings than most.
“Going into next season it is something we will need to look at."
Source
The 19-year-old Benfica playmaker is yet to figure for the Whites following his January move from Lisbon.
But Lennon believes the time is now right to give the former Portugal Under-19 international his chance.
The Whites boss promised to shuffle his pack for the trip to Portman Road following Saturday’s 2-0 home win against Millwall with one eye on Saturday’s derby at Wigan Athletic.
And that shake-up could also see new boy Paddy McCarthy rested and Dorian Dervite return to the back line.
There is also an enforced change in midfield with Neil Danns beginning a two-match suspension for racking up 10 bookings this season.
That could open the door for Rochinha’s involvement, though Giles Coke could also stake a claim.
Lennon told The Bolton News: “Rochinha is coming into our thinking because he has been champing at the bit to be involved.
“Under the circumstances it has been difficult to throw him in but we may look at him. Training-wise and football-wise he has been very good.
"If we throw him in it might work, it might not. But the kid deserves an opportunity to be in the squad and around it. He is a talent.
“In an ideal world Rochinha would have played more. He understands that and his professionalism is very good.
"With Paddy McCarthy, it is something we will have to try and balance off going into a third game in a week.
“He has been a great acquisition and I wish I had got him in earlier. He has played well and is a good type.
“I may freshen that up because Dorian is fit after his knee problem.
"We will need to freshen it up anyway. It is a big ask to play Saturday and then travel to Ipswich for a Tuesday night game.”
Danns’ absence is a blow for the Whites and while Lennon concedes 10 bookings by mid-March is a lot, he does not want to take away the Liverpudlian’s combative side of the game.
The Whites boss said: "It was inevitable (Danns suspension) but 10 bookings is a lot.
“I do though want him to make tackles, I don't want him to shy away from them.
“We took him off on Saturday because we couldn't risk him getting sent off and losing him for longer.
"He is in there to make tackles and win the ball back.
“That's his job so he would be liable to pick up more bookings than most.
“Going into next season it is something we will need to look at."
Source
