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Phil Parkinson is looking for a pick-me-up to beat the January blues at Wanderers.
Time is ticking down in the winter transfer window but the Whites boss is not in a position to make luxury signings to boost his squad.
The ongoing Football League embargo, which limits the squad to 23 players, presents a unique challenge. But Parkinson remains confident he will be able to bring in some new blood before the January 31 deadline.
“We are trying to move things around a bit, just to freshen things up,” he said.
“As everyone knows it’s a numbers game and if it wasn’t, there are players out there we could get. Of course, that makes it more difficult.
“We have got to be very selective and make sure the ones we get in are the right ones for what we need to give the existing players a lift.”
Wanderers may have to look within to find a boost today at Southend after an energy-sapping FA Cup tie in midweek.
Max Clayton, Derik Osede, Chris Taylor and Jamie Proctor have all been knocking on the first team door in recent weeks – and Roots Hall could well provide an opportunity.
Parkinson stuck with his tried-and-trusted 11 in the cup replay to reward their efforts in the first game but admitted there was a strong argument for others to be considered.
“We contemplated making changes but we just thought the lads who got us the replay deserved to start,” he said.
“There were players like Derik Osede who were very unfortunate not to get a game, and others, but I think it proved to be the right decision in terms of how the lads played.
“There are certainly going to be opportunities for those players going forward. I wanted to get Max and Chris Taylor on a lot sooner than I managed to in the end, and they were desperate to make an impact.
“I keep saying that James Henry has turned things around and he’s someone now who can give us a lift – so why couldn’t someone else do that?”
Fortunes have altered for winger Henry, whose loan from Wolves has now been extended to the end of the season.
The 28-year-old’s original deal from Wolves included the opportunity to sign outright in January with a two-year deal in the offing but, once again, the terms of Wanderers’ embargo prevented them from doing the deal.
Henry could have returned to Molineux but chose to stay on and fight for a permanent contract with the Whites.
His form since taking over the right-wing berth from Sammy Ameobi has been the highlight of Bolton’s 2017 thus far – and two well-taken goals against Scunthorpe on New Year’s Eve and Palace at Selhurst have helped fans see him in a much more positive light than they did earlier in the season.
Newcastle have yet to play Ameobi in any way, shape or form since his return to Tyneside, suggesting they would still be open to a loan deal for the second half of the season if the financial issues between the two clubs are rectified.
If, however, Wanderers are unable to manufacture a second space in their squad, Henry’s upturn in form may well convince Parkinson that an out-and-out striker is a better use of the slot.
In the meantime, Parkinson knows exactly what he has to work with at Roots Hall today, where he looks to overturn a Southend side who have been among the most consistent in the division of late.
Suspensions to Jermaine McGlashan and Nile Ranger may have disrupted the Shrimpers’ flow but Phil Brown was able to add Gillingham’s Frank Nouble to his squad in the build-up to the game.
“They are quite similar to us, really, in that they went on a long run of good results based on a very consistent team selection. I can certainly see how they have got results,” Parkinson said.
“They have only lost once in their last 15 games, and that was against Sheffield United a couple of weeks ago.
“But I have watched them back quite a few times now and we have got some ideas about where we can exploit weaknesses and neutralise their strengths.”
Source
Time is ticking down in the winter transfer window but the Whites boss is not in a position to make luxury signings to boost his squad.
The ongoing Football League embargo, which limits the squad to 23 players, presents a unique challenge. But Parkinson remains confident he will be able to bring in some new blood before the January 31 deadline.
“We are trying to move things around a bit, just to freshen things up,” he said.
“As everyone knows it’s a numbers game and if it wasn’t, there are players out there we could get. Of course, that makes it more difficult.
“We have got to be very selective and make sure the ones we get in are the right ones for what we need to give the existing players a lift.”
Wanderers may have to look within to find a boost today at Southend after an energy-sapping FA Cup tie in midweek.
Max Clayton, Derik Osede, Chris Taylor and Jamie Proctor have all been knocking on the first team door in recent weeks – and Roots Hall could well provide an opportunity.
Parkinson stuck with his tried-and-trusted 11 in the cup replay to reward their efforts in the first game but admitted there was a strong argument for others to be considered.
“We contemplated making changes but we just thought the lads who got us the replay deserved to start,” he said.
“There were players like Derik Osede who were very unfortunate not to get a game, and others, but I think it proved to be the right decision in terms of how the lads played.
“There are certainly going to be opportunities for those players going forward. I wanted to get Max and Chris Taylor on a lot sooner than I managed to in the end, and they were desperate to make an impact.
“I keep saying that James Henry has turned things around and he’s someone now who can give us a lift – so why couldn’t someone else do that?”
Fortunes have altered for winger Henry, whose loan from Wolves has now been extended to the end of the season.
The 28-year-old’s original deal from Wolves included the opportunity to sign outright in January with a two-year deal in the offing but, once again, the terms of Wanderers’ embargo prevented them from doing the deal.
Henry could have returned to Molineux but chose to stay on and fight for a permanent contract with the Whites.
His form since taking over the right-wing berth from Sammy Ameobi has been the highlight of Bolton’s 2017 thus far – and two well-taken goals against Scunthorpe on New Year’s Eve and Palace at Selhurst have helped fans see him in a much more positive light than they did earlier in the season.
Newcastle have yet to play Ameobi in any way, shape or form since his return to Tyneside, suggesting they would still be open to a loan deal for the second half of the season if the financial issues between the two clubs are rectified.
If, however, Wanderers are unable to manufacture a second space in their squad, Henry’s upturn in form may well convince Parkinson that an out-and-out striker is a better use of the slot.
In the meantime, Parkinson knows exactly what he has to work with at Roots Hall today, where he looks to overturn a Southend side who have been among the most consistent in the division of late.
Suspensions to Jermaine McGlashan and Nile Ranger may have disrupted the Shrimpers’ flow but Phil Brown was able to add Gillingham’s Frank Nouble to his squad in the build-up to the game.
“They are quite similar to us, really, in that they went on a long run of good results based on a very consistent team selection. I can certainly see how they have got results,” Parkinson said.
“They have only lost once in their last 15 games, and that was against Sheffield United a couple of weeks ago.
“But I have watched them back quite a few times now and we have got some ideas about where we can exploit weaknesses and neutralise their strengths.”
Source
