Will Aimson’s recent record in a Wanderers shirt holds up to anyone else in the squad – and that is why Ian Evatt would have no qualms about bringing him into the side against Morecambe tonight.
With Ricardo Santos suspended, it looks likely that Evatt will turn to the former Plymouth Argyle defender to fill the gap in the centre of his defence.
Aimson finished the season in the middle of the back three and has won the last five matches in which he has started.
But while the 28-year-old has been frustrated by his lack of game time this season, Evatt is backing him to make the most of his opportunity against Morecambe.
“I’m really pleased with Will,” he said. “He was very unlucky not to start the season. I thought he had a really good pre-season.
“He’s a valued member of the squad. I think every time he has played for us, he has never let us down. Rico was missing for the last five or six games of the season last season, Will played every game and I think we won the majority of those. His record in the team is pretty good.
“He never lets anybody down, he knows exactly what to do, can defend one v one in big spaces, can handle the ball. He’s an important player for us.
“I think he’s just getting an understanding of what we want to do and how we want to do it but he was frustrated not to start the season and I understand the reasons why. But we also know things change pretty quickly in football and as has been seen, they do, and he’s going to play games and he’ll be an important player for us this season.”
Morecambe managed to frustrate Bolton at the UniBol last season after Cole Stockton had given them the lead just before half time.
The Shrimps’ resolve was finally broken by a late Jon Dadi Bodvarsson goal – but this time around Evatt has placed emphasis on his side opening the scoring and drawing their opponents out of their shell.
“I think it’s important that we get the first goal because if you concede the first goal then it can become difficult, that low block is really difficult to break down,” he said.
“I think in the home game last season, we attacked really well the first half an hour and should have scored and I think it was an individual error that put them ahead. After that we knocked and banged on the door and couldn’t quite open it until the very last minute with Jon via a second phase set play, so the first goal will be vital.”
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