Home
EVEN Neil Lennon has been surprised by the impact Gary Madine has made at Wanderers this summer.
With four goals in six pre-season friendlies, the former Sheffield Wednesday man has made an electric start to his career at the Macron Stadium.
Some questioned whether the 24-year-old was a sound investment back in May when Lennon beat Leeds United and Blackpool to his signature.
Madine had been released at Hillsborough after making just four starts under Stuart Gray and spending the majority of the campaign out on loan.
But after watching his new striker score twice at Port Vale on Tuesday night, even the Whites boss has been taken back by how well Madine has settled in his new surroundings.
“I’ve been really pleased with him – he’s a better player than I thought he was,” he told The Bolton News.
“That wasn’t even him at his best; he has done better in other games. But his first finish was terrific, it was a great run, and then the second was the first time we’d really put a decent ball in for him in a decent area in the second half. We crossed the ball in early and he finished really well. You fancy him in those positions.
“I hope he’s going to be a bonus for us, even though I don’t want to make any rash predictions. But I think we’ve got a decent player on our hands there.”
Madine has already spoken about his hunger to prove the doubters wrong, on and off the field.
Lennon has likened his physical style to that of former Celtic team-mate Chris Sutton – and believes the fearless front man can become a popular figure at the Macron.
“He’s missed out on a lot of football in the last couple of seasons,” said the manager. “But there’s no doubt he’s talented.
“He reminds me a lot of Chris Sutton – I’m not saying he’s exactly the same – but there are similarities with the way he takes the ball down and holds the ball up. He’s very good in the air and his work-rate is good.
“The best thing is he’s still young and there is plenty of scope to improve.”
Another big plus from the victory at Vale Park was the return to action of midfielder Mark Davies.
Missing since the tour of Austria, Lennon is hoping to give the 27-year-old some more playing time against Charlton tomorrow night to sharpen him up for the opening day of the season.
“It’s a big boost for us, and he’ll feel the benefit of being back out there,” he added.
“He adds something extra to us and I thought he played pretty well. He’s a good footballer.
“He hasn’t played since Paderborn, and he did get a nasty challenge there, but he’s recovered well and he looks to have come through it well.
“We’ve got another game on Friday, so that will give him another chance to get out there and get some more football in him.”
Tim Ream flew back into the country yesterday after his international summer with the US, and will be in consideration for the Charlton game.
He may well be joined by David Wheater, who made a welcome appearance on the pitch at Port Vale, but did not feature in the match-day squad.
The centre-half has not played for the Whites since the start of March when he suffered a hamstring injury and stayed behind in the UK when the squad travelled out to Austria earlier this month to work on his rehabilitation.
Lennon is encouraged by the fact some of his key players are now nearing full fitness, even if there are still some doubts about whether his first-choice 11 will be ready for the big Championship kick-off on August 8.
“You look at who is coming back and we’ve got the likes of Zach Clough, Darren Pratley, Emile Heskey, Tim Ream, Max Clayton and David Wheater to go in there,” he said. “We do want to add some more but what we have got there is a pretty solid squad.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/13508385.He_s_a_better_player_than_I_thought__Wanderers_boss_Neil_Lennon_draws_comparison_between_striker_Madine_and_his_former_Glasgow_Celtic_team_mate/?ref=mr&lp=7
With four goals in six pre-season friendlies, the former Sheffield Wednesday man has made an electric start to his career at the Macron Stadium.
Some questioned whether the 24-year-old was a sound investment back in May when Lennon beat Leeds United and Blackpool to his signature.
Madine had been released at Hillsborough after making just four starts under Stuart Gray and spending the majority of the campaign out on loan.
But after watching his new striker score twice at Port Vale on Tuesday night, even the Whites boss has been taken back by how well Madine has settled in his new surroundings.
“I’ve been really pleased with him – he’s a better player than I thought he was,” he told The Bolton News.
“That wasn’t even him at his best; he has done better in other games. But his first finish was terrific, it was a great run, and then the second was the first time we’d really put a decent ball in for him in a decent area in the second half. We crossed the ball in early and he finished really well. You fancy him in those positions.
“I hope he’s going to be a bonus for us, even though I don’t want to make any rash predictions. But I think we’ve got a decent player on our hands there.”
Madine has already spoken about his hunger to prove the doubters wrong, on and off the field.
Lennon has likened his physical style to that of former Celtic team-mate Chris Sutton – and believes the fearless front man can become a popular figure at the Macron.
“He’s missed out on a lot of football in the last couple of seasons,” said the manager. “But there’s no doubt he’s talented.
“He reminds me a lot of Chris Sutton – I’m not saying he’s exactly the same – but there are similarities with the way he takes the ball down and holds the ball up. He’s very good in the air and his work-rate is good.
“The best thing is he’s still young and there is plenty of scope to improve.”
Another big plus from the victory at Vale Park was the return to action of midfielder Mark Davies.
Missing since the tour of Austria, Lennon is hoping to give the 27-year-old some more playing time against Charlton tomorrow night to sharpen him up for the opening day of the season.
“It’s a big boost for us, and he’ll feel the benefit of being back out there,” he added.
“He adds something extra to us and I thought he played pretty well. He’s a good footballer.
“He hasn’t played since Paderborn, and he did get a nasty challenge there, but he’s recovered well and he looks to have come through it well.
“We’ve got another game on Friday, so that will give him another chance to get out there and get some more football in him.”
Tim Ream flew back into the country yesterday after his international summer with the US, and will be in consideration for the Charlton game.
He may well be joined by David Wheater, who made a welcome appearance on the pitch at Port Vale, but did not feature in the match-day squad.
The centre-half has not played for the Whites since the start of March when he suffered a hamstring injury and stayed behind in the UK when the squad travelled out to Austria earlier this month to work on his rehabilitation.
Lennon is encouraged by the fact some of his key players are now nearing full fitness, even if there are still some doubts about whether his first-choice 11 will be ready for the big Championship kick-off on August 8.
“You look at who is coming back and we’ve got the likes of Zach Clough, Darren Pratley, Emile Heskey, Tim Ream, Max Clayton and David Wheater to go in there,” he said. “We do want to add some more but what we have got there is a pretty solid squad.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/13508385.He_s_a_better_player_than_I_thought__Wanderers_boss_Neil_Lennon_draws_comparison_between_striker_Madine_and_his_former_Glasgow_Celtic_team_mate/?ref=mr&lp=7