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Lloyd Isgrove felt like he got straight back in the old routine for Wanderers in their Papa Johns Trophy win against Leeds United’s Under-21s.
Some 11 months since his last appearance at the University of Bolton Stadium, the popular 29-year-old created the first goal of the night for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and staked his claim to face Accrington Stanley this weekend.
With Conor Bradley suspended, Ian Evatt will gave to pick a new right wing-back, and Isgrove’s midweek display did him no harm as the Whites progressed to the knockout stages with a 3-0 win.
“I felt good. I’d played a bit for the B Team coming into it, so I was feeling fine,” he told The Bolton News.
“It was very nice to be back out there, it has been a while. Just to get back and get some minutes in was fantastic.
“It is a long time but when you get out there it feels like you have never been away.
“Getting out there, getting used to a new team because it all changed while I was away. I have obviously trained with them but it is different on a matchday so some of them are new team-mates.
“It is just nice to be out there and being around the lads is great.”
Since Isgrove first damaged his hamstring in a League One game against Doncaster Rovers in November last year there has been an overhaul on both playing staff and tactics within Evatt’s squad.
Isgrove earned plaudits for filling-in at this time last year as an auxiliary full-back but is now being asked to adapt the job as a wing-back.
“It is a new role again,” he said. “I was playing in a back four last season when I was playing.
“I am learning all the time. I can get up and down and enjoy playing there.
“In the game now players are asked to do different roles. If the gaffer trusts you, it is good to have some versatility. We have a few lads like that, which must be good for the manager.
“You look at Sads going in up front. When the gaffer trusts you and knows you can do a job for the team it can only be good for yourself.
“When the team changes the levels can’t drop. There were quite a few changes tonight but it worked out.”
Evatt was convinced to start Isgrove against Leeds after watching him burn through an impressive 12km during the recent B Team game against Lincoln City.
While he is itching to do the same in League One, the winger accepts he may have to be patient.
“I would have tried to beat it if I’d stayed on – and first team to B Team is different, but I am still building up sharpness.,” he said.
“Ten months is a long time. You are not just going to be out there playing 90 minutes every week as soon as you get back.
“Take your time, know when you are ready, know your body.”
Isgrove lifted the Papa Johns Trophy in a previous incarnation whilst playing for Peterborough United, who beat a Chesterfield team involving his current manager in 2014.
He repeated the feat two years later in the colours of Barnsley, beating Oxford United 3-2.
Now Isgrove is keen to make it a hat-trick.
“It is a great day at Wembley for the fans,” he said. “I have been there and played in a final and won it before, so I’d definitely be looking to do it again.”
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