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Ben Alnwick reckons team-mate Jake Turner has all the tools to go to succeed for club and country.
After signing his first professional contract this summer, England youth international Turner has been tipped for big things at the Macron Stadium.
Wanderers have fierce competition for the number one spot – Mark Howard finishing last season on top after Alnwick picked up a knee injury.
Turner’s rise to prominence could put him into the mix this season, or perhaps put him in line for a loan move.
Alnwick also represented the Three Lions between Under-16s and Under-21 level as he cut his teeth in the senior ranks at Sunderland and Tottenham, going out to earn experience with the likes of Leyton Orient, Leicester and Norwich.
And he believes a similar route could work for the 18-year-old academy graduate in the coming years.
“Jake has got everything you need as a keeper,” Alnwick told The Bolton News. “The size of him, the power, it’s all there.
“He needs to work on a few little things but apart from that he’s got all the tools to go all the way. And he’s a great lad on top of that, gets involved with the lads, he’s no pushover.
“As long as he’s working hard he’ll get all the rewards for it. He does need to get some games under his belt, get roughed up a little bit, but at the same time he’s such a young lad.
“With the right guidance and knowing he’s got such a good head on him I think he can go all the way to the top.”
Fit-again, Alnwick and Howard spent last week working closely with goalkeeper coach Lee Butler to bring themselves fully up to speed for the Championship season ahead.
Both players have been given equal playing time thus far in the friendlies as the coaching staff keep up the friendly rivalry between their two senior stoppers.
“Lee has been brilliant,” Alnwick said. “We work really hard but there’s always a good bit of banter between the keepers and in between we can have a good laugh. I’m enjoying every minute of it.
“I’m used to pre-seasons, this is about my 13th one, and every year you tend as goalkeepers to get the 45 minutes each and then as time goes on we’ll do 90 minutes to get us both back up to it.
“If you look at last season we both had to be ready. Whether you’re playing the first or second half in pre-season you have got to be on your toes, so that’s why these games are great.”
The squad’s trip to Scotland brought two wins and, says Alnwick, reignited the team spirit which proved so important in League One last season.
“After last season a lot of the lads went to Dubai and we haven’t seen each other since, so it’s been good to get away,” he said.
“Pre-seasons don’t get any easier. The camaraderie starts right away but we know it’s about hard work at this time of year.”
Wanderers travel to AFC Fylde tomorrow night for their fourth friendly of the summer, Phil Parkinson’s plans now starting to take some shape.
Filipe Morais (knee) is the only injury concern going to Mill Farm, where the newly-promoted Conference club entertained Rochdale on Saturday, slipping to a 1-0 defeat.
Alnwick is excited at the prospect of taking on some of the Championship’s big guns this season – even if Wanderers do as underdogs in many people’s eyes.
“This is the best bit for me, once the games come thick and fast,” he said.
“Like the rest of the lads, I can’t wait to get going in the Championship.
“It’s not League One any more – and you look at some of the teams spending money and think ‘wow’. But we have got a winning mentality, an unbelievable set of lads who go the extra mile for each other and I think it can take you far.
“You saw last season with Huddersfield Town, you don’t have to be a bunch of superstars.”
Meanwhile, former Wanderers full-back Lawrie Wilson has signed a two-year deal with League Two club, Port Vale.
The defender was released by Bolton in the summer and had trained with Portsmouth before liking up with Vale, managed by ex-Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown.
Liam Trotter is also on trial with Scunthorpe United.
Source
After signing his first professional contract this summer, England youth international Turner has been tipped for big things at the Macron Stadium.
Wanderers have fierce competition for the number one spot – Mark Howard finishing last season on top after Alnwick picked up a knee injury.
Turner’s rise to prominence could put him into the mix this season, or perhaps put him in line for a loan move.
Alnwick also represented the Three Lions between Under-16s and Under-21 level as he cut his teeth in the senior ranks at Sunderland and Tottenham, going out to earn experience with the likes of Leyton Orient, Leicester and Norwich.
And he believes a similar route could work for the 18-year-old academy graduate in the coming years.
“Jake has got everything you need as a keeper,” Alnwick told The Bolton News. “The size of him, the power, it’s all there.
“He needs to work on a few little things but apart from that he’s got all the tools to go all the way. And he’s a great lad on top of that, gets involved with the lads, he’s no pushover.
“As long as he’s working hard he’ll get all the rewards for it. He does need to get some games under his belt, get roughed up a little bit, but at the same time he’s such a young lad.
“With the right guidance and knowing he’s got such a good head on him I think he can go all the way to the top.”
Fit-again, Alnwick and Howard spent last week working closely with goalkeeper coach Lee Butler to bring themselves fully up to speed for the Championship season ahead.
Both players have been given equal playing time thus far in the friendlies as the coaching staff keep up the friendly rivalry between their two senior stoppers.
“Lee has been brilliant,” Alnwick said. “We work really hard but there’s always a good bit of banter between the keepers and in between we can have a good laugh. I’m enjoying every minute of it.
“I’m used to pre-seasons, this is about my 13th one, and every year you tend as goalkeepers to get the 45 minutes each and then as time goes on we’ll do 90 minutes to get us both back up to it.
“If you look at last season we both had to be ready. Whether you’re playing the first or second half in pre-season you have got to be on your toes, so that’s why these games are great.”
The squad’s trip to Scotland brought two wins and, says Alnwick, reignited the team spirit which proved so important in League One last season.
“After last season a lot of the lads went to Dubai and we haven’t seen each other since, so it’s been good to get away,” he said.
“Pre-seasons don’t get any easier. The camaraderie starts right away but we know it’s about hard work at this time of year.”
Wanderers travel to AFC Fylde tomorrow night for their fourth friendly of the summer, Phil Parkinson’s plans now starting to take some shape.
Filipe Morais (knee) is the only injury concern going to Mill Farm, where the newly-promoted Conference club entertained Rochdale on Saturday, slipping to a 1-0 defeat.
Alnwick is excited at the prospect of taking on some of the Championship’s big guns this season – even if Wanderers do as underdogs in many people’s eyes.
“This is the best bit for me, once the games come thick and fast,” he said.
“Like the rest of the lads, I can’t wait to get going in the Championship.
“It’s not League One any more – and you look at some of the teams spending money and think ‘wow’. But we have got a winning mentality, an unbelievable set of lads who go the extra mile for each other and I think it can take you far.
“You saw last season with Huddersfield Town, you don’t have to be a bunch of superstars.”
Meanwhile, former Wanderers full-back Lawrie Wilson has signed a two-year deal with League Two club, Port Vale.
The defender was released by Bolton in the summer and had trained with Portsmouth before liking up with Vale, managed by ex-Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown.
Liam Trotter is also on trial with Scunthorpe United.
Source