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Steve Parkin reckons today’s Championship dress rehearsal against Stoke City is just what Wanderers need.
Phil Parkinson’s side return to the Macron Stadium for the first time since their memorable promotion-clinching victory over Peterborough United looking to shake off the uncertainty which has accrued in the last few weeks.
After an encouraging start in the transfer market the going has been much slower in recent weeks, and it is yet to become clear what effect changes to the salary caps will have on Wanderers’ plans.
Assistant boss Parkin believes a challenging 90 minutes against Mark Hughes’ established top flight side could be just what the doctor ordered, giving the Whites a chance to restore some momentum.
“It’ll be a tough game but I think it’s probably the type of game we need right now,” he told The Bolton News. “We weren’t at the races against Fleetwood. I was disappointed, so were the players.
“We had a little in-house 11 v 11 against the kids, which was good and had a lot better tempo, so I think we’re starting to look sharper and more like where we want them to be.
“Stoke game is important now because we need to start shaping the team up for the start of the season but also it’s good opposition where we’ll have to be right on it, or otherwise it’ll be a very tough day.”
Squad numbers were announced yesterday, with youngsters Harry Brockbank, Cole Lonsdale, Ryan White, Conor Hall, Jack Earing, Alex Perry and Jeff King all getting a shirt.
Youth has played a major part of the summer schedule – and Parkin hopes they can be phased into the senior set up this season.
“It’s maybe a bit soon for them at the moment,” he said. “Wed like to think we could roll with the squad we’ve got and bring them in for a few games at a time rather than relying on six at a time.
“It’s a tough old division we’re going into. We’ve got to make sure the squad is strong, with a sprinkling of the youngsters.”
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Phil Parkinson’s side return to the Macron Stadium for the first time since their memorable promotion-clinching victory over Peterborough United looking to shake off the uncertainty which has accrued in the last few weeks.
After an encouraging start in the transfer market the going has been much slower in recent weeks, and it is yet to become clear what effect changes to the salary caps will have on Wanderers’ plans.
Assistant boss Parkin believes a challenging 90 minutes against Mark Hughes’ established top flight side could be just what the doctor ordered, giving the Whites a chance to restore some momentum.
“It’ll be a tough game but I think it’s probably the type of game we need right now,” he told The Bolton News. “We weren’t at the races against Fleetwood. I was disappointed, so were the players.
“We had a little in-house 11 v 11 against the kids, which was good and had a lot better tempo, so I think we’re starting to look sharper and more like where we want them to be.
“Stoke game is important now because we need to start shaping the team up for the start of the season but also it’s good opposition where we’ll have to be right on it, or otherwise it’ll be a very tough day.”
Squad numbers were announced yesterday, with youngsters Harry Brockbank, Cole Lonsdale, Ryan White, Conor Hall, Jack Earing, Alex Perry and Jeff King all getting a shirt.
Youth has played a major part of the summer schedule – and Parkin hopes they can be phased into the senior set up this season.
“It’s maybe a bit soon for them at the moment,” he said. “Wed like to think we could roll with the squad we’ve got and bring them in for a few games at a time rather than relying on six at a time.
“It’s a tough old division we’re going into. We’ve got to make sure the squad is strong, with a sprinkling of the youngsters.”
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