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Wanderers will offer chances to young players - but only when they are ready.
That was the message coming from Phil Parkinson as he reflected on the sudden rise to prominence of youth team midfielder Luca Connell and Under-23s regular Joe Pritchard.
The Bolton boss has come in for some criticism from Wanderers fans for not promoting from within but has given senior debuts to the likes of Jack Earing, Jeff King and Connor Hall during his time in charge.
But wary of the flood of youngsters used in Wanderers ill-fated 2015/16 campaign, which ended in relegation, Parkinson is reluctant to give out opportunities without due cause.
“Everybody wants to see homegrown players in the team but they have to be ready," he said of Connell and Pritchard's debut.
“Three years ago when Bolton came down from this division a lot of young players played, and supporters with good memories will remember a lot of them were a long way off Championship standard at the time.
"There is always a clamour to play young players and as a manager I have always done that, but only when they are ready. That’s the key."
Wanderers bowed out of the FA Youth Cup with a 3-0 home defeat against Leicester City on Wednesday night.
Eddie Brown and Matthew Argent-Barnes hit the woodwork early on for the young Whites but Sidnei Tavares opened the scoring on 32 minutes with a deflected effort.
The Foxes doubled their lead 14 minutes from the end through sub Dempsey Arnott-John before Terrell Pennant added a third.
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That was the message coming from Phil Parkinson as he reflected on the sudden rise to prominence of youth team midfielder Luca Connell and Under-23s regular Joe Pritchard.
The Bolton boss has come in for some criticism from Wanderers fans for not promoting from within but has given senior debuts to the likes of Jack Earing, Jeff King and Connor Hall during his time in charge.
But wary of the flood of youngsters used in Wanderers ill-fated 2015/16 campaign, which ended in relegation, Parkinson is reluctant to give out opportunities without due cause.
“Everybody wants to see homegrown players in the team but they have to be ready," he said of Connell and Pritchard's debut.
“Three years ago when Bolton came down from this division a lot of young players played, and supporters with good memories will remember a lot of them were a long way off Championship standard at the time.
"There is always a clamour to play young players and as a manager I have always done that, but only when they are ready. That’s the key."
Wanderers bowed out of the FA Youth Cup with a 3-0 home defeat against Leicester City on Wednesday night.
Eddie Brown and Matthew Argent-Barnes hit the woodwork early on for the young Whites but Sidnei Tavares opened the scoring on 32 minutes with a deflected effort.
The Foxes doubled their lead 14 minutes from the end through sub Dempsey Arnott-John before Terrell Pennant added a third.
Source