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After finding himself far from home this season, Oscar Threlkeld has returned to Wanderers feeling like a new man.
Packed off to Plymouth by Neil Lennon last August, there were no guarantees being offered to the Radcliffe-born defender he would get another chance to prove he was first team material.
Threlkeld had been used sporadically by the former Whites boss, enduring a memorably tough time against Norwich City on Halloween night 2014 in front of the Sky Sports cameras. By the start of this season a summer injury left him completely out of the picture and facing an uncertain future despite the paucity of right-backs Lennon had at the time.
The 22-year-old started to answer his doubters in League Two. Converted to a holding midfielder by Argyle boss Derek Adams, the academy graduate began to develop his physical game and got some rave reviews down in Devon.
Now, after a successful return to the team against Charlton in midweek, Threlkeld is relishing the chance to show how far his game has progressed at a time when Wanderers need to be promoting from within.
Jimmy Phillips’ side head to Cardiff City tomorrow packed to the rafters with home-grown players who are hoping for an opportunity.
“There are three games left to play for the shirt,” Threlkeld told The Bolton News. “What has happened off the pitch, has happened this season. I kept an eye on it from afar but it isn’t something we can do anything about.
“Now I am playing for myself and making sure I earn a contract.
“I will be playing my heart out, don’t worry about that. I think a lot of the younger players in the squad are thinking the same.”
League Two football was a sink-or-swim affair for Threlkeld, who had known nothing other than Wanderers since the age of six when he opted to join from Radcliffe Borough.
“It’s a good job I’ve got a diesel car with all the miles I’ve been putting in,” he smirked. “It’s a long drive but no matter how far it is, I needed the experience.
“Once I got down there it was a real eye-opener. It was a great experience and taught me a lot about the game physically and mentally.
“I feel like I went out a boy and have come back a man. Hopefully I can show that experience in the next few games because I think I’m better on the ball, my positioning is better and I deal with the physical side of the game better.
“Obviously the facilities are a lot different and the pitches are nice here in the Championship. When you are down there it’s bobbling about all over the place. But it’s an experience and that’s why I went out there.”
Dougie Freedman granted Threlkeld his debut on the penultimate weekend of the 2013/14 season at Sheffield Wednesday, where two other youth graduates Andy Kellett and Tom Youngs also got a run.
But it wasn’t until Lennon threw him in at Carrow Road that Threlkeld really got a taste of how tough life could be in the senior ranks.
“Don’t mention that game,” he said of the 2-1 defeat. “I felt like I was a boy learning in that game.
“If I’d have put myself into that game now I would have done a lot, lot better.
“Obviously I tried my hardest but it was just a step out of my depth at the time.
“After going down to Plymouth and learning about the actual game of football I feel I can handle more.”
Threlkeld was one of six academy graduates in the squad in Tuesday night’s goalless draw, his performance being one of the only positives to be gleaned from the night.
Keen to prove youth can be the base for the team in League One next season, Threlkeld believes the camaraderie among the home-grown players could count in the club’s favour.
“My family always say it’s nice to play alongside people you have known all your life,” he said.
“Josh Vela and Zach Clough have been around the first team for a while – and I have played with them since Under-9s or 10s but now we’ve got Niall Maher, Rob Holding and Tom Walker coming in and we’re all learning from each other.
“We are all looking at getting that game time. If it is League One then, to me, that is a different experience, different pitches, different footballing culture. It will be good.
“Josh has had a taste of League One on loan with Notts County so we can listen to him on what that is like.”
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Packed off to Plymouth by Neil Lennon last August, there were no guarantees being offered to the Radcliffe-born defender he would get another chance to prove he was first team material.
Threlkeld had been used sporadically by the former Whites boss, enduring a memorably tough time against Norwich City on Halloween night 2014 in front of the Sky Sports cameras. By the start of this season a summer injury left him completely out of the picture and facing an uncertain future despite the paucity of right-backs Lennon had at the time.
The 22-year-old started to answer his doubters in League Two. Converted to a holding midfielder by Argyle boss Derek Adams, the academy graduate began to develop his physical game and got some rave reviews down in Devon.
Now, after a successful return to the team against Charlton in midweek, Threlkeld is relishing the chance to show how far his game has progressed at a time when Wanderers need to be promoting from within.
Jimmy Phillips’ side head to Cardiff City tomorrow packed to the rafters with home-grown players who are hoping for an opportunity.
“There are three games left to play for the shirt,” Threlkeld told The Bolton News. “What has happened off the pitch, has happened this season. I kept an eye on it from afar but it isn’t something we can do anything about.
“Now I am playing for myself and making sure I earn a contract.
“I will be playing my heart out, don’t worry about that. I think a lot of the younger players in the squad are thinking the same.”
League Two football was a sink-or-swim affair for Threlkeld, who had known nothing other than Wanderers since the age of six when he opted to join from Radcliffe Borough.
“It’s a good job I’ve got a diesel car with all the miles I’ve been putting in,” he smirked. “It’s a long drive but no matter how far it is, I needed the experience.
“Once I got down there it was a real eye-opener. It was a great experience and taught me a lot about the game physically and mentally.
“I feel like I went out a boy and have come back a man. Hopefully I can show that experience in the next few games because I think I’m better on the ball, my positioning is better and I deal with the physical side of the game better.
“Obviously the facilities are a lot different and the pitches are nice here in the Championship. When you are down there it’s bobbling about all over the place. But it’s an experience and that’s why I went out there.”
Dougie Freedman granted Threlkeld his debut on the penultimate weekend of the 2013/14 season at Sheffield Wednesday, where two other youth graduates Andy Kellett and Tom Youngs also got a run.
But it wasn’t until Lennon threw him in at Carrow Road that Threlkeld really got a taste of how tough life could be in the senior ranks.
“Don’t mention that game,” he said of the 2-1 defeat. “I felt like I was a boy learning in that game.
“If I’d have put myself into that game now I would have done a lot, lot better.
“Obviously I tried my hardest but it was just a step out of my depth at the time.
“After going down to Plymouth and learning about the actual game of football I feel I can handle more.”
Threlkeld was one of six academy graduates in the squad in Tuesday night’s goalless draw, his performance being one of the only positives to be gleaned from the night.
Keen to prove youth can be the base for the team in League One next season, Threlkeld believes the camaraderie among the home-grown players could count in the club’s favour.
“My family always say it’s nice to play alongside people you have known all your life,” he said.
“Josh Vela and Zach Clough have been around the first team for a while – and I have played with them since Under-9s or 10s but now we’ve got Niall Maher, Rob Holding and Tom Walker coming in and we’re all learning from each other.
“We are all looking at getting that game time. If it is League One then, to me, that is a different experience, different pitches, different footballing culture. It will be good.
“Josh has had a taste of League One on loan with Notts County so we can listen to him on what that is like.”
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