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Kyle Dempsey has “come back absolutely flying” after a frustrating time with injuries, says Whites boss Ian Evatt.
Dempsey arrived at Wanderers from Gillingham on deadline day but struggled to get a consistent run of games under his belt due to a series of niggles.
The midfielder impressed against Longridge on Tuesday night, opening the scoring with a composed finish past former Bolton man James Aspinall.
“I thought Kyle Dempsey was outstanding in the first half and we saw glimpses of what he is going to bring to us,” Evatt told The Bolton News.
“Kyle missed a significant period of time before he came to us and we knew he was not fully fit.
“But it was just about implementing the idea into his head about what we are and what we are trying to do.
“That is why we did it in January to really give him that five months of settling in, bedding in, understanding the system and the formation, how we train and how we work.
“He has done that and he has come back absolutely flying. His running data over the Portugal week along with Kieran Sadlier’s I must say was absolutely brilliant - as they all were really.
“I am not going to share the data with you but they are streets ahead of where they were last season, so a positive moving forwards.”
New signing Jack Iredale, who joined on a free transfer after an impressive campaign at Cambridge, also impressed against Longridge.
Evatt hopes he can provide healthy competition for George Johnston, who was an almost ever-present figure last term.
“I think he gives us some flexibility and he is kind of that hybrid type,” he added. “He can play left-back, left wing-back, left-side centre back.
“And he is a progressive passer as you saw. He sees pictures, he plays forwards with quality. I am pleased with him.
“Jonno has done great, and there are lots of different challenges in this division this season and we are going to need different players for different challenges. Jack gives us that option to play those multiple positions.
“Jonno has done fantastic and he will improve again this season, he is learning all the time.
“Gethin on the other side is that hybrid type in the right centre back, right-back, right wing-back and Conor Bradley is a fantastic athlete.”
Kieran Lee featured against Longridge despite missing the training camp in Portugal due to the birth of his child.
The experienced midfielder missed the final months of last season after having surgery to treat a bone spur on his heel.
“Kieran trained with us one day (Monday) and then straight back into it. He is just so intelligent that he naturally picks up what we are trying to do,” the manager explained.
“We discussed with him before the game and he just goes out there and does it. He is only going to get better and fitter and stronger as time progresses.
“He has missed a lot of time but he is a naturally fit lad and a very intelligent footballer.”
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