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David Wheater is keen to make up for lost time and help plug the leaky Wanderers defence after the international break.
The Teessider missed the end of last season and the beginning of the current campaign while recovering from back and hamstring problems.
But he made his return in the 2-2 home draw against Brighton and managed another 45 minutes from the bench in the second half at QPR.
It has been the former England Under-21 defender's first action for six months but now he is back feeling fit and fresh.
And after a stop-start few seasons through injuries – missing four consecutive pre-season campaigns in the process – Wanderers boss Neil Lennon has already stressed the need to be careful in monitoring Wheater's fitness following his return to the fold.
But the big defender, whose current contract runs out at the end of this season, is just happy to be back involved with the first team again.
“I feel good,” Wheater told the club.
“Of course, I’m a bit stiff but it’s been a long time since I played and it’s great to be back.
“The Brighton match was a good game to come back into and a good result in the end.
"Obviously, we would have preferred the win, but they’re a top team who are top of the league and in hindsight, it was a good point for us to pick up.”
The second outing of Wheater's comeback did not go as well with the Whites surrendering a 2-0 lead to lose 4-3 late on at Loftus Road after he replaced the injured Francesco Pisano at half time.
He started on the bench as Dorian Dervite returned from his own injury absence to partner French compatriot Prince-Desire Gouano from the start.
With Derik Osede also in the squad, Lennon has plenty of options in central defence.
But Wheater sees that as healthy competition and as one of the more senior players, despite being still just 28 years old, he is helping the summer additions settle into life in Bolton, with Derik moving from Spain and Prince arriving from Italian football.
Of the senior players at the Macron Stadium, only Mark Davies has been with the club longer than Wheater, who arrived from Middlesbrough in January 2011.
But he says both summer additions are adjusting quickly to life in England despite the language barrier.
Wheater added: "It’s been a change for us with the lads at the back coming in such as Derik and Prince – there have of course been language barriers.
"But as soon as you’re on the pitch everybody knows what their job is and where they should be.
"Hopefully, we will all come back refreshed after the break and ready to attack the league table again.”
Source
The Teessider missed the end of last season and the beginning of the current campaign while recovering from back and hamstring problems.
But he made his return in the 2-2 home draw against Brighton and managed another 45 minutes from the bench in the second half at QPR.
It has been the former England Under-21 defender's first action for six months but now he is back feeling fit and fresh.
And after a stop-start few seasons through injuries – missing four consecutive pre-season campaigns in the process – Wanderers boss Neil Lennon has already stressed the need to be careful in monitoring Wheater's fitness following his return to the fold.
But the big defender, whose current contract runs out at the end of this season, is just happy to be back involved with the first team again.
“I feel good,” Wheater told the club.
“Of course, I’m a bit stiff but it’s been a long time since I played and it’s great to be back.
“The Brighton match was a good game to come back into and a good result in the end.
"Obviously, we would have preferred the win, but they’re a top team who are top of the league and in hindsight, it was a good point for us to pick up.”
The second outing of Wheater's comeback did not go as well with the Whites surrendering a 2-0 lead to lose 4-3 late on at Loftus Road after he replaced the injured Francesco Pisano at half time.
He started on the bench as Dorian Dervite returned from his own injury absence to partner French compatriot Prince-Desire Gouano from the start.
With Derik Osede also in the squad, Lennon has plenty of options in central defence.
But Wheater sees that as healthy competition and as one of the more senior players, despite being still just 28 years old, he is helping the summer additions settle into life in Bolton, with Derik moving from Spain and Prince arriving from Italian football.
Of the senior players at the Macron Stadium, only Mark Davies has been with the club longer than Wheater, who arrived from Middlesbrough in January 2011.
But he says both summer additions are adjusting quickly to life in England despite the language barrier.
Wheater added: "It’s been a change for us with the lads at the back coming in such as Derik and Prince – there have of course been language barriers.
"But as soon as you’re on the pitch everybody knows what their job is and where they should be.
"Hopefully, we will all come back refreshed after the break and ready to attack the league table again.”
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