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Chris O’Grady looks unlikely to feature again for Wanderers in the short-term after picking up an Achilles injury in the build-up to this weekend’s game against Accrington Stanley.
The experienced striker had started five of the last six games for Keith Hill’s side, scoring in the 2-0 victory against Tranmere Rovers at the start of February.
O’Grady was not on the team-sheet on Saturday, however, and could now miss the next couple of games at Wimbledon and Burton while the injury settles.
The 34-year-old had been speaking in the lead-up to the weekend about the need for Wanderers to gather some momentum going into next season – which is almost certain to be in League Two.
Bolton’s fate could be mathematically confirmed by the end of the month if they fail to get back to winning ways and O’Grady feels there is a responsibility on the players to keep pushing themselves hard despite the sorrowful circumstances.
“I suppose it’s the same all round for the players, staff and fans. It has been difficult but we keep fighting – that’s what it is all about,” he said.
“It is about doing yourself proud, showing some pride, and seeing what results we can put together between now and the end of the season.”
O’Grady recently reached 100 career league goals but since signing among a flurry of new faces last August, there have been few moments to cherish in what has been a difficult campaign.
His involvement has been somewhat of a lucky omen for the team – who have managed just one victory without him in the starting line-up. But as recent form has underlined, the consistency required to climb away from danger has never materialised.
“I have appreciated the chance to come to the club and I have given my all,” O’Grady said.
“Like a lot of the players, it hasn’t quite paid off as well as we’d have like, but we keep going with it.
“I think it is vitally important going into next season because it will have a knock-on effect.
“If we finish well then you can take that momentum into next season, which is going to be important.
“I suppose between now and the end it is about seeing what works in terms of personnel and formations.”
Manager Hill said recently that he was keen to “park any negativity” in this season and start afresh in the summer following a campaign which began in administration and has seldom ran smoothly.
O’Grady – one of 16 senior professionals who will be out of contract in the summer – believes the way Wanderers approach their last dozen games will have a lasting effect on next season’s fortunes.
“That has got to be the goal for us – to put some results together with back-to-back performances,” he said.
“Whether it’s wins or to stay unbeaten it has to be some sort of goal to work towards.
“We keep talking about next season but it has got to be important because the club needs to get back to where they belong, and it is going to take picking up results consistently.”
Wanderers have a statistical incentive between now and the end of the season and are currently on course to avoid the lowest number of points-per-game, which was set when the club was relegated from the Championship in 2015/16.
The team averaged just 0.65 points per game that season, compared with the current crop’s 0.75 points per game.
Hill believes the point gained against Accrington will help restore some of the damaged belief in the dressing room.
“When you are losing games narrowly – and they have been narrow – then it hurts,” he said. “They have gone through a lot of work, preparation, spent a lot of time looking at opposition and so that result just gives them a little bit of a lift, makes that hard work that little bit more worthwhile.
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The experienced striker had started five of the last six games for Keith Hill’s side, scoring in the 2-0 victory against Tranmere Rovers at the start of February.
O’Grady was not on the team-sheet on Saturday, however, and could now miss the next couple of games at Wimbledon and Burton while the injury settles.
The 34-year-old had been speaking in the lead-up to the weekend about the need for Wanderers to gather some momentum going into next season – which is almost certain to be in League Two.
Bolton’s fate could be mathematically confirmed by the end of the month if they fail to get back to winning ways and O’Grady feels there is a responsibility on the players to keep pushing themselves hard despite the sorrowful circumstances.
“I suppose it’s the same all round for the players, staff and fans. It has been difficult but we keep fighting – that’s what it is all about,” he said.
“It is about doing yourself proud, showing some pride, and seeing what results we can put together between now and the end of the season.”
O’Grady recently reached 100 career league goals but since signing among a flurry of new faces last August, there have been few moments to cherish in what has been a difficult campaign.
His involvement has been somewhat of a lucky omen for the team – who have managed just one victory without him in the starting line-up. But as recent form has underlined, the consistency required to climb away from danger has never materialised.
“I have appreciated the chance to come to the club and I have given my all,” O’Grady said.
“Like a lot of the players, it hasn’t quite paid off as well as we’d have like, but we keep going with it.
“I think it is vitally important going into next season because it will have a knock-on effect.
“If we finish well then you can take that momentum into next season, which is going to be important.
“I suppose between now and the end it is about seeing what works in terms of personnel and formations.”
Manager Hill said recently that he was keen to “park any negativity” in this season and start afresh in the summer following a campaign which began in administration and has seldom ran smoothly.
O’Grady – one of 16 senior professionals who will be out of contract in the summer – believes the way Wanderers approach their last dozen games will have a lasting effect on next season’s fortunes.
“That has got to be the goal for us – to put some results together with back-to-back performances,” he said.
“Whether it’s wins or to stay unbeaten it has to be some sort of goal to work towards.
“We keep talking about next season but it has got to be important because the club needs to get back to where they belong, and it is going to take picking up results consistently.”
Wanderers have a statistical incentive between now and the end of the season and are currently on course to avoid the lowest number of points-per-game, which was set when the club was relegated from the Championship in 2015/16.
The team averaged just 0.65 points per game that season, compared with the current crop’s 0.75 points per game.
Hill believes the point gained against Accrington will help restore some of the damaged belief in the dressing room.
“When you are losing games narrowly – and they have been narrow – then it hurts,” he said. “They have gone through a lot of work, preparation, spent a lot of time looking at opposition and so that result just gives them a little bit of a lift, makes that hard work that little bit more worthwhile.
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