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Neil Lennon has ordered Gary Madine to “keep believing” after his goal-less start to life at Bolton Wanderers.
Despite seeing his summer signing miss a penalty against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the Wanderers boss has no complaints with the way Madine has started the season.
The former Sheffield Wednesday striker twice hit the woodwork against Derby County on the opening day of the season and missed another gilt-edged opportunity at MK Dons.
But Lennon believes it is only a matter of time before Madine hits the back of the net – and believes he should be assessed on his all-round impact at Wanderers thus far.
“If he’d scored four goals for us people would be raving but not just about the ones he’d finished, about his all-round play,” he told The Bolton News.
“You just have to keep confident that they’ll come. He is getting in the right places.
“It can sap your energy sometimes but he’s got to keep believing because he’s playing very well.”
It is a similar case for Madine’s strike partner Zach Clough, who has suffered in the first five games in league and cup.
The highly-rated youngster was prolific in his short burst of first team action last season, scoring six goals in 10 appearances.
It has been a hard slog so far for the 20-year-old but Lennon believes he will be learning some valuable lessons along the way.
“He’s fighting himself a little bit at the moment,” said the Wanderers boss. “But you have to remember how young he is, Zach’s anxious and he wants to please people.
“He has to settle down a little bit and I know the goals will come. He’ll learn how to play his way through little spells like this.
“His form is okay. He had a great game the other night at MK Dons but he’s just struggling to find that football intelligence we know he’s got.
“He’ll be a great player, no doubt about that, he just needs to settle.”
Wanderers have also given a squad number to another young striking talent coming through the ranks, Jamie Thomas.
The prolific 18-year-old has not yet signed a professional deal with Wanderers but was handed the number 40 shirt after preparing with the squad for Saturday’s game against Forest.
Thomas has represented Wales at Under-19 level and scored a raft of goals for David Lee and Tony Kelly’s youth team in recent seasons.
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Despite seeing his summer signing miss a penalty against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the Wanderers boss has no complaints with the way Madine has started the season.
The former Sheffield Wednesday striker twice hit the woodwork against Derby County on the opening day of the season and missed another gilt-edged opportunity at MK Dons.
But Lennon believes it is only a matter of time before Madine hits the back of the net – and believes he should be assessed on his all-round impact at Wanderers thus far.
“If he’d scored four goals for us people would be raving but not just about the ones he’d finished, about his all-round play,” he told The Bolton News.
“You just have to keep confident that they’ll come. He is getting in the right places.
“It can sap your energy sometimes but he’s got to keep believing because he’s playing very well.”
It is a similar case for Madine’s strike partner Zach Clough, who has suffered in the first five games in league and cup.
The highly-rated youngster was prolific in his short burst of first team action last season, scoring six goals in 10 appearances.
It has been a hard slog so far for the 20-year-old but Lennon believes he will be learning some valuable lessons along the way.
“He’s fighting himself a little bit at the moment,” said the Wanderers boss. “But you have to remember how young he is, Zach’s anxious and he wants to please people.
“He has to settle down a little bit and I know the goals will come. He’ll learn how to play his way through little spells like this.
“His form is okay. He had a great game the other night at MK Dons but he’s just struggling to find that football intelligence we know he’s got.
“He’ll be a great player, no doubt about that, he just needs to settle.”
Wanderers have also given a squad number to another young striking talent coming through the ranks, Jamie Thomas.
The prolific 18-year-old has not yet signed a professional deal with Wanderers but was handed the number 40 shirt after preparing with the squad for Saturday’s game against Forest.
Thomas has represented Wales at Under-19 level and scored a raft of goals for David Lee and Tony Kelly’s youth team in recent seasons.
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