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Ian Evatt insists Xavier Amaechi will still “play a part” for Wanderers this season.
Amaechi initially joined the Whites on loan from Hamburg over the summer but spent several months on the sidelines after suffering a fractured metatarsal in a pre-season friendly against Preston.
The winger finally made his Bolton debut against Crewe in November and scored his first goal for the club two weeks later.
However, he was then sidelined by a hamstring injury and hasn’t featured since the 1-0 defeat at Accrington in December.
But Evatt is confident Amaechi can still make an impact for Wanderers before the end of the season.
“It’s been tough for him. Xav is such a good lad and is so determined that he’s even got to the point now where he’s trying to do too much,” said the Bolton boss.
“Every time he steps on the training pitch and when he played for the reserves the other day, it’s almost like he feels he has to do something to impress to make up for lost time.
"Sometimes simplicity is genius and he looks a better player when he keeps things simple and mixes his game up. We’ve had a chat today, he understands that.
“I still think he can affect this system as well – he can play wing-back or as a number 10, especially if we need him to attack and get some goals.
“There are still 16 games left in the season - it’s a long, long time. And he will play a part in us hopefully getting to where we want to be.”
Evatt had high expectations for Amaechi when he signed the winger back in June and says he has “immense” quality.
“You don’t go to Hamburg for two-and-a-half-million quid and earn the contract that he’s got and play for England throughout the age groups if you don’t have ability,” he added.
“He’s got an immense amount of ability - it’s just channelling it the right way and making sure he’s not overcomplicating things.
“At the moment, I feel he is because he just wants to do well and impress and make an impact.
“But it’s about making him understand that you can still have that impact by mixing your game up and sometimes keeping it simple.”
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