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Arthur Gnahoua could yet prove a secret weapon in Wanderers' arsenal this season, says Ian Evatt.
After coming off the bench to help save a point against Exeter City and Cheltenham Town in the last week, calls for the 28-year-old attacker to be given his first start since the end of October are growing ever louder.
Gnahoua's brief Bolton career to date has been more memorable for his first interview, in which he memorably admitted that living locally was a major factor in him signing.
A shoulder injury sustained moments after getting on to the pitch against Walsall before Christmas saw him drop down the pecking order - and with Evatt stating he wants to bring in another striker in January, Gnahoua's prospects did not look great until very recently.
To date he has started just three times in the league and his only goal before last week was in the Papa John's Trophy against Newcastle's Under-21s.
But the goal at St James Park plus an assist for Eoin Doyle on Saturday underlined his value off the bench and Evatt feels there could be scope for him to play an even bigger part.
“I think for the moment he is an impact player," said the Wanderers boss. "He’s someone that we don’t know what he’s going to do, I don't think Arthur knows what he is going to do, but he has definitely got talent.
"If we can get some structure into him, some pitch intelligence, then he’s going to be a major threat because he can go off both feet, he can shoot off both feet.
"He’s definitely got talent, it’s just fine tuning him and giving him some pitch intelligence and definitely defensive detail."
Gnahoua's entrance against Cheltenham was good news for, Doyle, who atoned for a series of earlier misses by grabbing his ninth of the season four minutes before the end.
The Irishman has already bettered Bolton's top league scorers in each of the previous two seasons - Daryl Murphy and Josh Magennis - and could soon join Josh Vela, Chris Eagles and Gary Madine as the only Whites stars to have reached double figures in a single season since the club dropped out of the Premier League.
Evatt was not worried that Doyle would let his head go down against Cheltenham despite watching him waste a couple of good chances when Bolton were in the ascendancy in the first half.
“That’s what happens with Eoin, he backs himself and we back him to score goals and he’s eventually got us one.," he said.
"I think he’ll be slightly disappointed with one or two of the headers first half, but I know Eoin will score them nine times out of 10.
"The key bit was when we were getting him in the right positions and the right balls into the box. That’s the most important part.”
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After coming off the bench to help save a point against Exeter City and Cheltenham Town in the last week, calls for the 28-year-old attacker to be given his first start since the end of October are growing ever louder.
Gnahoua's brief Bolton career to date has been more memorable for his first interview, in which he memorably admitted that living locally was a major factor in him signing.
A shoulder injury sustained moments after getting on to the pitch against Walsall before Christmas saw him drop down the pecking order - and with Evatt stating he wants to bring in another striker in January, Gnahoua's prospects did not look great until very recently.
To date he has started just three times in the league and his only goal before last week was in the Papa John's Trophy against Newcastle's Under-21s.
But the goal at St James Park plus an assist for Eoin Doyle on Saturday underlined his value off the bench and Evatt feels there could be scope for him to play an even bigger part.
“I think for the moment he is an impact player," said the Wanderers boss. "He’s someone that we don’t know what he’s going to do, I don't think Arthur knows what he is going to do, but he has definitely got talent.
"If we can get some structure into him, some pitch intelligence, then he’s going to be a major threat because he can go off both feet, he can shoot off both feet.
"He’s definitely got talent, it’s just fine tuning him and giving him some pitch intelligence and definitely defensive detail."
Gnahoua's entrance against Cheltenham was good news for, Doyle, who atoned for a series of earlier misses by grabbing his ninth of the season four minutes before the end.
The Irishman has already bettered Bolton's top league scorers in each of the previous two seasons - Daryl Murphy and Josh Magennis - and could soon join Josh Vela, Chris Eagles and Gary Madine as the only Whites stars to have reached double figures in a single season since the club dropped out of the Premier League.
Evatt was not worried that Doyle would let his head go down against Cheltenham despite watching him waste a couple of good chances when Bolton were in the ascendancy in the first half.
“That’s what happens with Eoin, he backs himself and we back him to score goals and he’s eventually got us one.," he said.
"I think he’ll be slightly disappointed with one or two of the headers first half, but I know Eoin will score them nine times out of 10.
"The key bit was when we were getting him in the right positions and the right balls into the box. That’s the most important part.”
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