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Joe Bunney says he is hungry to get back after a disastrous start to his Wanderers career.
The full-back has yet to play a first-team game for Bolton after sustaining injuries in a car crash just a week after his arrival on a free transfer from Northampton Town.
He did pull a shirt on for the first time in the Development Squad last week, however, playing just over an hour against Hull City at Leyland, and is likely to be in David Lee’s group heading for Crewe Alexandra this afternoon.
Bunney is now eager to make up for lost time and regretful that he has missed a chance to impact on Wanderers’ campaign to date.
“It didn’t get off to a good start, which I was massively disappointed in but it’s off to a start now,” he said. “When it all happened I was gutted. My family was gutted, signing for a big club like this I just wanted to get out there. It has been tough seeing the fans… but it has only made me hungrier to get back now. I know it has been four months, but I need to get the games now and kick on.
Another frustrating aspect of Bunney’s absence was that he arrived at Bolton in good shape.
Keith Hill and David Flitcroft had assembled a squad from scratch on deadline day comprising of players in varying physical condition. And at the time, the 26-year-old was the only senior left-back in the group.
“I played a lot of games in pre-season and got back into the team, played the first three or four, and I was fit when I came here,” Bunney told the club. “Some of the lads hadn’t been playing but I felt fit in training for that first week.
“I couldn’t wait to get going but I had a bit of a disaster with everything that has gone on. Hopefully it’s behind me now and I can get back to that tip-top fitness.”
The road back to fitness has been a test of mental strength for the former Rochdale and Stockport County man. Bolton’s medical room has often been a crowded one this season – but Bunney has had to watch players come and go over the last four months.
“I was on my own in the gym for a while then we got a few more injuries. I shouldn’t day that makes it better but it did give me a bit of company,” he said.
“There were some hard days out there on my own watching the lads running round and training but I am back now, want to go from strength to strength, and get on the good end of it.
“There have been some hurdles along the way with injuries – I wouldn’t have thought it would be as long as it has been – but it’s behind me now.
“I am lucky to have a good support network around me, good friends and family, so they have been there to support me, been on the journey, and they can’t wait to get out there to watch me.”
The defender also admits he may need to be patient for a short while longer before getting back into Hill’s plans. “I played a 23s game and I don’t think I am fully fit yet, I probably need another one under my belt, and then we’ll see where we are,” he said.
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The full-back has yet to play a first-team game for Bolton after sustaining injuries in a car crash just a week after his arrival on a free transfer from Northampton Town.
He did pull a shirt on for the first time in the Development Squad last week, however, playing just over an hour against Hull City at Leyland, and is likely to be in David Lee’s group heading for Crewe Alexandra this afternoon.
Bunney is now eager to make up for lost time and regretful that he has missed a chance to impact on Wanderers’ campaign to date.
“It didn’t get off to a good start, which I was massively disappointed in but it’s off to a start now,” he said. “When it all happened I was gutted. My family was gutted, signing for a big club like this I just wanted to get out there. It has been tough seeing the fans… but it has only made me hungrier to get back now. I know it has been four months, but I need to get the games now and kick on.
Another frustrating aspect of Bunney’s absence was that he arrived at Bolton in good shape.
Keith Hill and David Flitcroft had assembled a squad from scratch on deadline day comprising of players in varying physical condition. And at the time, the 26-year-old was the only senior left-back in the group.
“I played a lot of games in pre-season and got back into the team, played the first three or four, and I was fit when I came here,” Bunney told the club. “Some of the lads hadn’t been playing but I felt fit in training for that first week.
“I couldn’t wait to get going but I had a bit of a disaster with everything that has gone on. Hopefully it’s behind me now and I can get back to that tip-top fitness.”
The road back to fitness has been a test of mental strength for the former Rochdale and Stockport County man. Bolton’s medical room has often been a crowded one this season – but Bunney has had to watch players come and go over the last four months.
“I was on my own in the gym for a while then we got a few more injuries. I shouldn’t day that makes it better but it did give me a bit of company,” he said.
“There were some hard days out there on my own watching the lads running round and training but I am back now, want to go from strength to strength, and get on the good end of it.
“There have been some hurdles along the way with injuries – I wouldn’t have thought it would be as long as it has been – but it’s behind me now.
“I am lucky to have a good support network around me, good friends and family, so they have been there to support me, been on the journey, and they can’t wait to get out there to watch me.”
The defender also admits he may need to be patient for a short while longer before getting back into Hill’s plans. “I played a 23s game and I don’t think I am fully fit yet, I probably need another one under my belt, and then we’ll see where we are,” he said.
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