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Dapo Afolayan is ready to break through Burton Albion and show his calibre in front of the cameras tonight.
The in-form winger says he is primed to produce his best as the Sky Sports TV crew arrive at the UniBol, where a win could send Bolton third in the table.
Afolayan was League One’s most fouled player after five games but it is a table he does not mind topping, so long as Wanderers come away with results.
“Listen, you see players like Eden Hazard or Jack Grealish are always the ones at the top of that list in the Premier League and they are the type of great players I want to emulate,” he told The Bolton News.
“They are driving forces in the game and that is what I am trying to be for Bolton. I want to get my game to that sort of level – and if I get fouled, I’ll get up and keep going. It is something I have to take in my stride.”
Having struggled to break down Cambridge United last time out in the league, Afolayan reckons the team has learned a valuable lesson.
“People do see that we’re one of the better teams in the league with the ball, so they do find ways to try and make it a more level playing field,” he said.
“We came away from Cambridge with a horrible feeling because we felt we were much the better side. We should never have lost that game.
“But you have to find a way when teams do what they did and sit in. More often than not it is about matching intensity because if we do that, we have got enough quality to make a difference.
“If Burton do come out on Monday trying to stop us playing then it is down to us to figure out how to get around it.”
Burton have also lost just one of their opening five and have already taken three points against promotion favourites like Ipswich Town and Sunderland.
Afolayan is confident, though, that after boosting the mood with a midweek win against Port Vale Wanderers are not about to disappoint.
“I think it will be a good game,” he said. “Looking at the results since their new manager came in, they have done quite well but I don’t think too many sides will come here and impose themselves on us.
“Tuesday – we wanted to forget all about Cambridge. That has been and gone now.
“We want to go out there on Monday night and put on a performance that the fans can be proud of on that big stage.”
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