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Liam Bridcutt can’t wait to be thrown in at the deep end against Rotherham United.
The on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder has not had much time to iron out the kinks after a year in the wilderness but is likely to go straight into Keith Hill’s new-look side tomorrow.
Bridcutt, aged 30, has not played a competitive game in 11 months but was one of nine new signings rushed over the line on deadline day by the new Bolton boss.
After a rapid spell of orientation, the former Brighton and Leeds man is not worried in the slightest about expectation being placed on his shoulders.
“It has been a bit strange, everyone in all at once but it was the same for players and management,” he told The Bolton News. “Nothing should really shock me in football now.
“All my career I have played better when there is pressure on me. It doesn’t worry me going straight in. I’m excited to play and can’t wait to get going and get some results for Bolton.
“I didn’t play anywhere near as much as I wanted to last season so I want to prove to people that I am ready to go again.”
That the Scotland international featured just five times for Forest last season is a mystery to many, including the player himself.
Bridcutt has not featured in a Championship game at the City Ground for nearly a year and was most recently consigned to reserve-team football at centre-half.
“So many people have asked me why,” he said. “Friends, family, fans – I have asked it myself of the club, had I done something wrong, upset someone?
“Every game I played for Forest I gave 100 per cent. I think I played well and honestly I think I deserved a place in the side but sometimes you have to take those things on the chin and accept them for what they are.
“Last year was difficult for me to take because I’d always been one of the first names on the team-sheet.
“Now I am at Bolton, I want to show people why that was the case.”
Swapping the Championship for a club set adrift at the foot of League One is nevertheless a bold move – but Bridcutt feels Bolton will be a good fit at this time in his career.
“As soon as I spoke to the manager I knew that I had to come here,” he said.
“The way he talked about the club, the football he wanted to play, the players he was bringing in.
“I have high standards and I think he has the same.
“He wants his team to play a certain way and I think it will suit me.
“I have spent most of my career in the top two divisions, so if people look at this and they are surprised, then OK.
“But I played four or five games last season and that was hard.
“I want to show people that I am still very capable of playing at that high standard.
“If that means rolling up my sleeves and coming to Bolton, then that is what I will do.
“People say it’ll be a relegation battle but to me it’s a chance to play football and I won’t be shying away from the hard work, don’t worry about that.”
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The on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder has not had much time to iron out the kinks after a year in the wilderness but is likely to go straight into Keith Hill’s new-look side tomorrow.
Bridcutt, aged 30, has not played a competitive game in 11 months but was one of nine new signings rushed over the line on deadline day by the new Bolton boss.
After a rapid spell of orientation, the former Brighton and Leeds man is not worried in the slightest about expectation being placed on his shoulders.
“It has been a bit strange, everyone in all at once but it was the same for players and management,” he told The Bolton News. “Nothing should really shock me in football now.
“All my career I have played better when there is pressure on me. It doesn’t worry me going straight in. I’m excited to play and can’t wait to get going and get some results for Bolton.
“I didn’t play anywhere near as much as I wanted to last season so I want to prove to people that I am ready to go again.”
That the Scotland international featured just five times for Forest last season is a mystery to many, including the player himself.
Bridcutt has not featured in a Championship game at the City Ground for nearly a year and was most recently consigned to reserve-team football at centre-half.
“So many people have asked me why,” he said. “Friends, family, fans – I have asked it myself of the club, had I done something wrong, upset someone?
“Every game I played for Forest I gave 100 per cent. I think I played well and honestly I think I deserved a place in the side but sometimes you have to take those things on the chin and accept them for what they are.
“Last year was difficult for me to take because I’d always been one of the first names on the team-sheet.
“Now I am at Bolton, I want to show people why that was the case.”
Swapping the Championship for a club set adrift at the foot of League One is nevertheless a bold move – but Bridcutt feels Bolton will be a good fit at this time in his career.
“As soon as I spoke to the manager I knew that I had to come here,” he said.
“The way he talked about the club, the football he wanted to play, the players he was bringing in.
“I have high standards and I think he has the same.
“He wants his team to play a certain way and I think it will suit me.
“I have spent most of my career in the top two divisions, so if people look at this and they are surprised, then OK.
“But I played four or five games last season and that was hard.
“I want to show people that I am still very capable of playing at that high standard.
“If that means rolling up my sleeves and coming to Bolton, then that is what I will do.
“People say it’ll be a relegation battle but to me it’s a chance to play football and I won’t be shying away from the hard work, don’t worry about that.”
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