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Kieran Sadlier’s versatility is making him one of Ian Evatt’s most important January bargains.
The former Rotherham United man grabbed the winning goal against his former club Doncaster Rovers, adding to his previous strikes against Lincoln City and Portsmouth.
Known more as a wide attacker, Sadlier has given some extra value at Wanderers after filling in as a wing-back in the weeks after Marlon Fossey’s season was ended prematurely by injury.
And Evatt admits the former Ireland Under-21 international’s ability to adapt to different roles on the pitch has given him much more tactical scope in the last few months.
“We might not have bought him as a wing-back – but the reason we did buy him and got him in January was because he gives us that flexibility,” he told The Bolton News after the game at Doncaster.
“He can play so many positions that we can move him and rotate him around the pitch as and when we see fit. We fluctuated second half between two systems.
“We started 3-5-2 and then we finished 4-2-3-1 and now we’ve got those types of players out there it gives us that flexibility at any point to just flick a switch and change it and they all know their roles.”
Sadlier has himself voiced regrets at joining Rotherham United from their South Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers in the summer of 2020 – but the home fans on Saturday were determined to remind him of their displeasure.
Evatt was pleased with the way the winger coped, and reckons the 27-year-old – who had the last laugh with a superb far-post volley to win the points – should take it as a back-handed compliment.
“What I have learned in football is when opposition fans are giving you the bird, it normally means that you’re a very good player and they’re pretty scared that you’re coming back and doing the business.
“Provided he does his talking with the football, which he did with that goal, then no problem,” he said.
“That’s the game. I’ve said many times that this is a game when you are professional athletes or staff, you’re going to get stick. Sometimes, provided it is light-hearted, it is acceptable.
“That is the nature of the beast, but when it goes personal and over the line, that is when we will stand up. But I thought it was light-hearted and he answered them the correct way.”
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