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George Thomason isn’t sweating the thought of ‘second season syndrome’ at Wanderers.
After breaking into the first team as an unknown quantity last season, the 20-year-old will be a much more familiar face in Bolton’s midfield this time around.
With that comes added expectation – but Thomason believes he can thrive in League One, continuing his rapid rise from non-league football to terrace favourite at the UniBol.
“I think the pressure will be good,” he told The Bolton News. “I am still really young so I don’t have anything to fear, as such, and can take everything in my stride.
“The experience I have around me allows me to play my best football, so I just focus on improving day-to-day. I can only think about pushing forward and trying to improve, so I am really looking forward to this season.”
Thomason faces a fight for a first team place this season in a midfield bolstered by the arrival of Wales international Josh Sheehan.
Ian Evatt still has a couple of signings to make before the close of the transfer window but Thomason believes the squad is shaping up to be one which can once again challenge at the top end of the table.
“We have signed some real quality in the window, I think they have added some real competition,” he said.
“Nobody can settle, nobody can be comfortable, because once you become comfortable you become vulnerable. I keep reiterating, the fact we have brought in good footballers as well as good people will only drive us towards success.
“It is the best thing for everyone. You don’t want to be in the side where you know the midfield three which will be picked week-in, week-out. That way you get complacent and that is when you lose football matches.
“We have a strong central midfield, my position, and I think that can only lead to good things.”
Wanderers kicked off their pre-season with a 3-1 win at Longridge and make the short trip to Atherton Colls tonight, where Ian Evatt will once again play a different team in each half.
Antoni Sarcevic is a doubt with a hamstring injury and both Alex Baptiste and Andy Tutte will miss the game because of self-isolation.
Thomason says the mood in pre-season has been upbeat after promotion and hopes it will continue throughout the friendly schedule.
“We left last season on a really good note, so we came in with good vibes, happy, smiling. We know it is hard work but we get it done and look forward to August,” he said.
“Tuesday night is another good one to kickstart pre-season, more minutes in the legs and building relationships on the pitch.”
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