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Ian Evatt has outlined how he could use Jack Iredale and Declan John in League One this season.
Iredale made his first appearance at wing-back in Saturday’s friendly defeat to Wigan Athletic and has been billed as a serious challenger to John, who has held down the position for the majority of his time at the UniBol.
Evatt says he could change up his wide defenders depending on the style of opposition or the playing surface – something he has struggled to do in the past.
Iredale is still getting to grips with some of the finer details of the role but the Bolton boss is encouraged by what he has seen so far.
“We haven’t worked too much on him in training on that position,” he said. “We’ve kept him at left centre-back and asked him to look and observe the left wing-back role and try and pick it up and I think he’ll get better with it. I think defensively there won’t be a problem.
“I just think it’s the positions in the forward areas where we need to tweak things and show him a few things, but that’s the difference between him and Declan.
“Declan is more of an out and out attacker so will be suited by certain games and challenges and Jack is a more defensive option and will give us a different look and a different set of skills for that position against opposition where Declan’s threats are probably going to be countered on bad pitches where you’re not going to be able to build through teams and play to Declan’s strengths.
“That’s where we need to be calm and solid and compact like Jack will give us on that left hand side.”
Iredale has also showed up well on the left side of the back three, and Evatt feels his style will suit the way his side play.
“We’ve seen that he’s a really progressive passer, he’s very good in possession, he’s still getting to grips with what we do here,” the manager said.
“It’s a lot different to what he’s been used to in the past but I think he’s took to it really well and I think he’s going to be an important player for us this season.”
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