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As Wanderers take stock of their squad in the final eight games and ask who should be retained next season, they shouldn’t forget about the players plying their trade elsewhere.
The likes of Oscar Threlkeld, Hayden White and Francesco Pisano may be out of sight but they are not out of mind for Jimmy Phillips and the Bolton hierarchy.
Threlkeld is set to return to the Macron on April 9 after a successful spell at Plymouth and could yet earn a new deal.
Here we cast our eye over all the loan stars and ponder whether their future lies here, or somewhere else altogether?
HAYDEN WHITE
(on loan at Blackpool)
How he left it: Pitched in for a surprise debut at QPR in January 2014, the jet-heeled defender featured three times at the start of the 2014/15 season and looked to be getting somewhere. His season fragmented from there as loan spells at Carlisle, Bury and Notts County pushed him further from his parent club. A season-long deal at Blackpool in his final contracted year at Bolton beckoned.
Progress report: White has filled-out physically and now looks more at home as a centre-half. He has become a regular under Neil McDonald and has 24 appearances under his belt this season in League One.
Future plans: A return to Wanderers looks unlikely given White’s contract is up in the summer. Blackpool are keen to sign him full-time too.
QUADE TAYLOR
(on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge)
How he left it: Featured on the final day of last season against Birmingham City and drew praise for his performance. Since then, he has hardly had a sniff of the first team despite being a regular at development-squad level.
Progress report: Hasn’t featured in the short time he has been at Victoria Road, sitting on the bench during defeats against Oxford United and Accrington. Things are not looking rosy for the league’s bottom club, currently 10 points adrift at the foot of League Two.
Future plans: Will be desperate to show what he is made of regardless of his loan club’s precarious position. The timing of his exit at Wanderers suggests the chances of a new deal are slim, so now is the time to impress.
OSCAR THRELKELD
(on loan at Plymouth)
How he left it: Eight appearances at first-team level for Wanderers were spread over two seasons and a particularly rough ride away at Norwich City suggested the full-back wasn’t quite ready for Championship football. A loan to Plymouth looked like a good move for all involved.
Progress report: Home Park has been the making of the Radcliffe-born defender, who has remodelled himself into a holding midfielder under Derek Adams. Plymouth extended his loan at the start of the year and he now has 28 appearances under his belt.
Future plans: Threlkeld returns to Bolton on April 9 after Plymouth face AFC Wimbledon at home. That gives him five games to show Jimmy Phillips and the rest of the club what he has learned in order to win a new deal.
LIAM FEENEY
(on loan at Ipswich)
How he left it: Feeney was playing his best football at Bolton when he was packed off to Portman Road in what can only be viewed as a cost-cutting measure.
Progress report: Made his debut as a half-time substitute in a 1-0 defeat against Rotherham United but has already voiced his desire to help Mick McCarthy’s side reach the play-offs.
Future plans: Almost certainly won’t play for Bolton again. Wanderers didn’t particularly want to lose him and his departure hinted the battle to avoid relegation had all-but been surrendered but you sense it won’t be the first difficult financial decision made by the new ownership.
ROB HALL
(on loan at MK Dons)
How he left it: Banished by Neil Lennon and tied into a complex contract which got more expensive the more games he played for the Whites, Hall could argue he never really got a shot at Bolton.
Progress report: Hall recovered from an early injury to make 32 appearances so far for Karl Robinson’s side. He has played centrally and on the wing and has had some rave reviews from the promoted club.
Future plans: Hall looks a shoo-in to sign for MK Dons on a permanent basis once his contract expires in the summer.
FRANCESCO PISANO
(on loan at US Avelino)
How he left it: Managed just three appearances after signing on a free transfer in August, paying for a poor performance away at QPR for which he was frozen out of the team by Neil Lennon.
Progress report: The tough-tackling full-back has made seven appearances so far in Serie B but his side’s chances of promotion have fallen away significantly.
Future plans: Has a year left on his Bolton deal but may have had his fingers burned in English football. Another loan looks likely next season.
CONOR WILKINSON
(on loan at Portsmouth)
How he left it: Has seven first-team appearances under his belt at Wanderers but has never quite done enough to claim a regular place in the squad, resulting in a number of loan moves. Attitude has been questioned at times.
Progress report: Hasn’t started at Pompey yet but previous loans this season at Barnsley and Newport have been a mixed bag. Only two goals but a decent amount of experience gained in his 24 appearances so far. Pompey boss Paul Cook is now challenging him to realise his potential.
Future plans: Plenty of time left on his deal at Wanderers, who are watching his time at Fratton Park with interest.
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The likes of Oscar Threlkeld, Hayden White and Francesco Pisano may be out of sight but they are not out of mind for Jimmy Phillips and the Bolton hierarchy.
Threlkeld is set to return to the Macron on April 9 after a successful spell at Plymouth and could yet earn a new deal.
Here we cast our eye over all the loan stars and ponder whether their future lies here, or somewhere else altogether?
HAYDEN WHITE
(on loan at Blackpool)
How he left it: Pitched in for a surprise debut at QPR in January 2014, the jet-heeled defender featured three times at the start of the 2014/15 season and looked to be getting somewhere. His season fragmented from there as loan spells at Carlisle, Bury and Notts County pushed him further from his parent club. A season-long deal at Blackpool in his final contracted year at Bolton beckoned.
Progress report: White has filled-out physically and now looks more at home as a centre-half. He has become a regular under Neil McDonald and has 24 appearances under his belt this season in League One.
Future plans: A return to Wanderers looks unlikely given White’s contract is up in the summer. Blackpool are keen to sign him full-time too.
QUADE TAYLOR
(on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge)
How he left it: Featured on the final day of last season against Birmingham City and drew praise for his performance. Since then, he has hardly had a sniff of the first team despite being a regular at development-squad level.
Progress report: Hasn’t featured in the short time he has been at Victoria Road, sitting on the bench during defeats against Oxford United and Accrington. Things are not looking rosy for the league’s bottom club, currently 10 points adrift at the foot of League Two.
Future plans: Will be desperate to show what he is made of regardless of his loan club’s precarious position. The timing of his exit at Wanderers suggests the chances of a new deal are slim, so now is the time to impress.
OSCAR THRELKELD
(on loan at Plymouth)
How he left it: Eight appearances at first-team level for Wanderers were spread over two seasons and a particularly rough ride away at Norwich City suggested the full-back wasn’t quite ready for Championship football. A loan to Plymouth looked like a good move for all involved.
Progress report: Home Park has been the making of the Radcliffe-born defender, who has remodelled himself into a holding midfielder under Derek Adams. Plymouth extended his loan at the start of the year and he now has 28 appearances under his belt.
Future plans: Threlkeld returns to Bolton on April 9 after Plymouth face AFC Wimbledon at home. That gives him five games to show Jimmy Phillips and the rest of the club what he has learned in order to win a new deal.
LIAM FEENEY
(on loan at Ipswich)
How he left it: Feeney was playing his best football at Bolton when he was packed off to Portman Road in what can only be viewed as a cost-cutting measure.
Progress report: Made his debut as a half-time substitute in a 1-0 defeat against Rotherham United but has already voiced his desire to help Mick McCarthy’s side reach the play-offs.
Future plans: Almost certainly won’t play for Bolton again. Wanderers didn’t particularly want to lose him and his departure hinted the battle to avoid relegation had all-but been surrendered but you sense it won’t be the first difficult financial decision made by the new ownership.
ROB HALL
(on loan at MK Dons)
How he left it: Banished by Neil Lennon and tied into a complex contract which got more expensive the more games he played for the Whites, Hall could argue he never really got a shot at Bolton.
Progress report: Hall recovered from an early injury to make 32 appearances so far for Karl Robinson’s side. He has played centrally and on the wing and has had some rave reviews from the promoted club.
Future plans: Hall looks a shoo-in to sign for MK Dons on a permanent basis once his contract expires in the summer.
FRANCESCO PISANO
(on loan at US Avelino)
How he left it: Managed just three appearances after signing on a free transfer in August, paying for a poor performance away at QPR for which he was frozen out of the team by Neil Lennon.
Progress report: The tough-tackling full-back has made seven appearances so far in Serie B but his side’s chances of promotion have fallen away significantly.
Future plans: Has a year left on his Bolton deal but may have had his fingers burned in English football. Another loan looks likely next season.
CONOR WILKINSON
(on loan at Portsmouth)
How he left it: Has seven first-team appearances under his belt at Wanderers but has never quite done enough to claim a regular place in the squad, resulting in a number of loan moves. Attitude has been questioned at times.
Progress report: Hasn’t started at Pompey yet but previous loans this season at Barnsley and Newport have been a mixed bag. Only two goals but a decent amount of experience gained in his 24 appearances so far. Pompey boss Paul Cook is now challenging him to realise his potential.
Future plans: Plenty of time left on his deal at Wanderers, who are watching his time at Fratton Park with interest.
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