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DAVID Lee’s development squad took another step towards the league title with victory over Barnsley – but a goal from Nigerian ace Chinedu Obasi could have ramifications further up the food chain.
While there is much to admire about the Under-23s sitting proudly atop Professional Development League North with seven games remaining, second string games have taken on an added significance this season.
Phil Parkinson’s determination to keep senior players fit and firing by dropping them down to play under Lee and Tony Kelly has yielded benefits.
And so it proved again on Monday night as Obasi got another 65 minutes of playing time under his belt, showing a sharpness which suggests it will not be long before he is drafted in at senior level.
The 31-year-old is having to prove his fitness to Parkinson after agreeing a pay-as-you-play deal earlier this month.
Obasi played the majority of a season in China between March and July last year before returning for a second spell at Swedish club AIK. There, he started seven out of 15 games, completing 90 minutes on just three occasions.
Although clearly playing catch-up, the former Schalke man did catch the eye against Barnsley, producing a smart finish for his second development squad goal in 85 minutes of football, spread over two appearances.
Obasi struggled to win over ex-Bolton boss Sam Allardyce at Sunderland during a trial in 2015, battling back at the time from a broken leg. Having already done the hard part – and secured a short-term deal at the Macron – he must now hope there is enough time left in the season to mount a challenge for a first team spot.
Parkinson used a night at the stadium to give match time to Mark Howard, Harry Charsley, Mark Little and Stephen Darby, all of whom have been on the periphery.
A more surprising inclusion, however, was that of Nottingham Forest loanee Tyler Walker, who had started against Preston North End in Wanderers’ last home game.
Aside from Obasi, the Whites’ other two goal-scorers on the night illustrated some of the exciting talent which is bubbling under the surface.
Midfielder Jack Earing produced a stunning first-half strike, while Connor Hall came off the bench on 65 minutes for Obasi, heading home Mark Little’s cross with his first touch.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/16085277.nigeria-striker-chinedu-obasi-furthers-claim-for-first-bolton-start/?ref=mr&lp=4
While there is much to admire about the Under-23s sitting proudly atop Professional Development League North with seven games remaining, second string games have taken on an added significance this season.
Phil Parkinson’s determination to keep senior players fit and firing by dropping them down to play under Lee and Tony Kelly has yielded benefits.
And so it proved again on Monday night as Obasi got another 65 minutes of playing time under his belt, showing a sharpness which suggests it will not be long before he is drafted in at senior level.
The 31-year-old is having to prove his fitness to Parkinson after agreeing a pay-as-you-play deal earlier this month.
Obasi played the majority of a season in China between March and July last year before returning for a second spell at Swedish club AIK. There, he started seven out of 15 games, completing 90 minutes on just three occasions.
Although clearly playing catch-up, the former Schalke man did catch the eye against Barnsley, producing a smart finish for his second development squad goal in 85 minutes of football, spread over two appearances.
Obasi struggled to win over ex-Bolton boss Sam Allardyce at Sunderland during a trial in 2015, battling back at the time from a broken leg. Having already done the hard part – and secured a short-term deal at the Macron – he must now hope there is enough time left in the season to mount a challenge for a first team spot.
Parkinson used a night at the stadium to give match time to Mark Howard, Harry Charsley, Mark Little and Stephen Darby, all of whom have been on the periphery.
A more surprising inclusion, however, was that of Nottingham Forest loanee Tyler Walker, who had started against Preston North End in Wanderers’ last home game.
Aside from Obasi, the Whites’ other two goal-scorers on the night illustrated some of the exciting talent which is bubbling under the surface.
Midfielder Jack Earing produced a stunning first-half strike, while Connor Hall came off the bench on 65 minutes for Obasi, heading home Mark Little’s cross with his first touch.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/16085277.nigeria-striker-chinedu-obasi-furthers-claim-for-first-bolton-start/?ref=mr&lp=4