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Wanderers are getting ready to bring a bit more X Factor into their attack.
Xavier Amaechi is making big strides towards his first appearance in a Bolton shirt after returning to training for the first time this week.
The former Arsenal man, on loan from Hamburg, was one of the Whites’ major summer signings but has yet to feature after fracturing his metatarsal in a pre-season friendly.
It is understood that Wanderers hope to have him ready for mid-November and could use games in the Central League to get him back up to top speed.
Ian Evatt has been pleased with the winger’s return to training for the first time since surgery in August.
“Xav has been back on the grass and obviously in-between the sessions there is a bit of stiffness and soreness, and that is to be expected, he told The Bolton News. “He has missed a significant period of time.
“But he has done really well and he looks fit, taken good care of himself and worked really hard on his rehab. We are looking forward to getting him back.
“It is huge for us. We signed him as one of the differentiators. He is a player who has X factor and at times when we have lost games 1-0 we have missed that type who can unlock doors, he is that player.
“Hopefully we can get him back sooner rather than later and he can have a strong run to Christmas.”
Fellow wide man, Dapo Afolayan, has taken the spotlight for Wanderers this season, scoring seven times in all competitions.
The former West Ham man says the extra attention and focus has not affected his mindset.
“For me, not much changes. I still have to go out on a Saturday or a Tuesday night and play my best game,” he said.
“Whether people talk about me or not I have a job to do, score and create goals for the team and help us get positive results.
“It isn’t something that fazes me. I’ll stay humble and I know I have got a lot to improve on.”
Nobody in League One has been fouled more times than Afolayan – and the 24-year-old is expecting more rough treatment against Wigan Athletic this afternoon and is happy to wear it as a badge of honour.
“It happens to the best and the way I play, it is to be expected,” he said.
“Teams and players have to find a way to stop us, stop me, so if that is what they are resorting to then I’ll have to deal with it. Again, I feel I am getting better with it, I won’t stop doing what I am doing.”
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