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Connor Hall’s 18 goals this season at Under-23s level have propelled him to the cusp of first team football - but coach David Lee accepts there is a bigger picture at Wanderers.
The former Sheffield United striker has been the breakthrough star of a talented group currently topping the Professional Development League North table.
As such, fans have been urging Phil Parkinson to fast-track the 20-year-old into the first team.
But Lee - who has no doubt Hall has the tools and talent to break into the senior ranks - understands why the Whites boss has held fire, for now.
“At any level to score 18 goals is a terrific achievement,” Lee told The Bolton News.
“Teams have started to target him at this level and know what a threat he has become.
“He deserves the credit. And in my opinion I think he’s worth a place in the manager’s first team squad – and he’s well aware of that situation.
“But the important thing for the club is getting over that line and getting safe.
“The manager has that responsibility and you can understand why he’d pick tried and trusted players.
“In an ideal world if they get over the line, maybe there’s less pressure and an opportunity, but that’s for the manager to decide.”
Tony Kelly, who has worked alongside Lee in what has been the most successful league campaign at this level in a decade for Bolton, has nothing but praise for the way Hall has forced his way into the reckoning since signing professionally at the end of last season.
“He’s a work in progress,” said the former Burnden Park favourite. “But he’s a kid that wants to learn, he stays behind and works on his finishing with David. And it’s pleasing to see now that when he misses chances he forgets about it.
“In the past when it happened it seemed to worry him a little bit.
“He’s part of a young squad who are working really hard. But it’s all geared now towards learning that bit extra that you need in the first team. Good habits.
“We were pleased after they got beat at Crewe because we asked the question ‘can you go again?’ And they have.”
Lee has high hopes for a handful of his side, which has emulated the first team in recovering from a poor start.
The young Whites lost six of their first seven league games before finding a steady squad, often supplemented by first teamers in need of game time.
The proximity of the academy and first team bases has also been a big plus for the younger players, who are thrown into training sessions on a regular basis to see how they handle playing against the senior pros.
Lee believes the system works, and though fans may clamour for youngsters to be drafted into matchday squads, Parkinson and his coaching staff monitor youngsters’ development closer than any of their contemporaries.
“We build them up not necessarily to knock them back down but everything is reality at this football club,” Lee explained. “They know they are not a million miles away from the first team but when they actually go and train with them, they can see the difference they have to make up.
“Phil (Parkinson) and Steve (Parkin) are brilliant because they accept they are going to make mistakes but when we think they are ready to progress we’ll put them up there and see how they do.
“All the players are realistic. They know you can’t just step into the first team, it’s a process that all players go through.”
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The former Sheffield United striker has been the breakthrough star of a talented group currently topping the Professional Development League North table.
As such, fans have been urging Phil Parkinson to fast-track the 20-year-old into the first team.
But Lee - who has no doubt Hall has the tools and talent to break into the senior ranks - understands why the Whites boss has held fire, for now.
“At any level to score 18 goals is a terrific achievement,” Lee told The Bolton News.
“Teams have started to target him at this level and know what a threat he has become.
“He deserves the credit. And in my opinion I think he’s worth a place in the manager’s first team squad – and he’s well aware of that situation.
“But the important thing for the club is getting over that line and getting safe.
“The manager has that responsibility and you can understand why he’d pick tried and trusted players.
“In an ideal world if they get over the line, maybe there’s less pressure and an opportunity, but that’s for the manager to decide.”
Tony Kelly, who has worked alongside Lee in what has been the most successful league campaign at this level in a decade for Bolton, has nothing but praise for the way Hall has forced his way into the reckoning since signing professionally at the end of last season.
“He’s a work in progress,” said the former Burnden Park favourite. “But he’s a kid that wants to learn, he stays behind and works on his finishing with David. And it’s pleasing to see now that when he misses chances he forgets about it.
“In the past when it happened it seemed to worry him a little bit.
“He’s part of a young squad who are working really hard. But it’s all geared now towards learning that bit extra that you need in the first team. Good habits.
“We were pleased after they got beat at Crewe because we asked the question ‘can you go again?’ And they have.”
Lee has high hopes for a handful of his side, which has emulated the first team in recovering from a poor start.
The young Whites lost six of their first seven league games before finding a steady squad, often supplemented by first teamers in need of game time.
The proximity of the academy and first team bases has also been a big plus for the younger players, who are thrown into training sessions on a regular basis to see how they handle playing against the senior pros.
Lee believes the system works, and though fans may clamour for youngsters to be drafted into matchday squads, Parkinson and his coaching staff monitor youngsters’ development closer than any of their contemporaries.
“We build them up not necessarily to knock them back down but everything is reality at this football club,” Lee explained. “They know they are not a million miles away from the first team but when they actually go and train with them, they can see the difference they have to make up.
“Phil (Parkinson) and Steve (Parkin) are brilliant because they accept they are going to make mistakes but when we think they are ready to progress we’ll put them up there and see how they do.
“All the players are realistic. They know you can’t just step into the first team, it’s a process that all players go through.”
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