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Ian Evatt believes Elias Kachunga is now rewarding Wanderers fans for their show of faith.
The former Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town front man took time to find his feet at the UniBol, waiting 21 games to score his first goal.
But after finding the back of the net in the FA Cup against Stockport County, he now has four goals in his last seven appearances, at a time when Evatt’s injury-hit squad was badly in need of a boost.
Now fully fit after missing the whole of pre-season, Evatt says Kachunga has become an important leader in the Bolton dressing room. And the Wanderers boss reckons part of his upturn in form is down to the support he has been given from the terraces.
“I think it shows what happens when you get the backing from a wonderful set of supporters, good things can happen,” Evatt said.
“Kacha really has stepped up to the plate at a time we really needed him.
“He has found a home, he’s happy, and he is starting to show people what a great player he can be. We believe in him and when you put all that together it can be really positive.”
As of last night, Kachunga was leading the fans' poll for November's player of the month.
And on the tactical side, the 29-year-old has also offered Evatt plenty of flexibility in the attacking positions which has helped during a time when options are limited elsewhere on the pitch.
“He has shown that recently and he gives us such good variety,” the manager said. “If we go 4-3-3 he can play wide, as a 10, or even as a nine. And definitely in the 3-4-3 he can play in any of the front three positions, so he we’re happy with where he is right now.”
Evatt hopes to get the same sort of performance curve from Xavier Amaechi, who has been fast-tracked into the first team after recovering from a fractured foot sustained in pre-season.
The club is confident it can agree a deal with Hamburg to keep the former Arsenal winger on loan beyond January but Evatt is also looking for improvement in the six games leading up to the end of his current deal.
“He was a big coup for us in the summer and we worked really hard on the deal to bring him here, and we were all distraught when he got injured in the summer,” he said.
“So far we have seen flickers of what he can do, glimpses of his talent. And he will only improve. When he gets fitter and sharper he will affect more games in a positive manner and that is great for us.
“There is willingness from all sides to keep him here and hopefully that can happen.
“But in the meantime, we have got a lot of work to do, giving him information and a picture of what we want him to do out there on the pitch.”
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