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Phil Parkinson reckons the arrival of Karl Henry has helped him get the best out of skipper Darren Pratley once again.
The experienced pair have formed a useful midfield partnership in recent weeks, as Wanderers took four points from their last two games against Sheffield Wednesday and QPR.
Pratley has come under fire from fans at various stages of his Bolton career and struggled to replicate the form he found at the end of last season following his return from long-term injury.
But Parkinson believes the signing of ex-Wolves and QPR ball-winner Henry has had a positive effect and means the 32-year-old can now concentrate on what the manager says are the strongest aspects of his game.
“Darren worked tirelessly again all game, as he always does, and he’s got the physicality which we need,” the manager said of his performance against QPR.
“He’s back doing what we want him to do – winning headers, winning tackles, getting up to people and stopping them playing, then playing the ball simple when he gets it.
“I think Karl is a very good communicator, there’s no doubt about that, he’s good at getting the best out of people.
“You have got two big, strong powerful lads in the middle of the pitch and sometimes the onus is on Darren to organise and speak to people but that onus on Karl at the moment.
“Darren has got to concentrate on what he has got to do in the team.
“He claimed an assist in the own goal last week and this week did well to stick the ball away after a great header from Gary Madine. I’m really pleased for him.”
Wanderers scored a fair percentage of their goals in League One from set pieces last season but Parkinson has voiced his concern the quality of delivery and threat has not always been there over the last few months.
The Whites boss says this too has improved since the international break.
“I think Josh’s delivery from the corner was excellent,” he said. “We do work hard on set pieces and making sure we are organised in there.
“But often, as we saw last season, it can be about how you react to that second phase and that’s how Darren’s goal came about.”
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The experienced pair have formed a useful midfield partnership in recent weeks, as Wanderers took four points from their last two games against Sheffield Wednesday and QPR.
Pratley has come under fire from fans at various stages of his Bolton career and struggled to replicate the form he found at the end of last season following his return from long-term injury.
But Parkinson believes the signing of ex-Wolves and QPR ball-winner Henry has had a positive effect and means the 32-year-old can now concentrate on what the manager says are the strongest aspects of his game.
“Darren worked tirelessly again all game, as he always does, and he’s got the physicality which we need,” the manager said of his performance against QPR.
“He’s back doing what we want him to do – winning headers, winning tackles, getting up to people and stopping them playing, then playing the ball simple when he gets it.
“I think Karl is a very good communicator, there’s no doubt about that, he’s good at getting the best out of people.
“You have got two big, strong powerful lads in the middle of the pitch and sometimes the onus is on Darren to organise and speak to people but that onus on Karl at the moment.
“Darren has got to concentrate on what he has got to do in the team.
“He claimed an assist in the own goal last week and this week did well to stick the ball away after a great header from Gary Madine. I’m really pleased for him.”
Wanderers scored a fair percentage of their goals in League One from set pieces last season but Parkinson has voiced his concern the quality of delivery and threat has not always been there over the last few months.
The Whites boss says this too has improved since the international break.
“I think Josh’s delivery from the corner was excellent,” he said. “We do work hard on set pieces and making sure we are organised in there.
“But often, as we saw last season, it can be about how you react to that second phase and that’s how Darren’s goal came about.”
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