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Ian Evatt has no doubt Dapo Afolayan could learn the ropes as a wing-back in the future.
While Saturday’s match-winner found the decisive goal after being moved up front in a 4-3-3, he began the game at Accrington Stanley in a relatively unfamiliar defensive role.
Evatt was impressed by Afolayan’s willingness to try out a position he had played only a few times in his Bolton career in a game Wanderers could ill-afford to lose.
And the Bolton boss is confident that the 25-year-old can be coached to have a deeper understanding of the role, if it is needed.
“I think so. I think Dapo is a willing learner, he’s an intelligent football player,” he said. “He’s had to have a spell and time out of the team because earlier on in the season the team was functioning really well.
“But what I’ve got to say is as a character and his personal development, he’s been a pleasure to work with, especially the last month. He’s had his head down, he’s been ultra-supportive of the players.
“He’s had a smile on his face day in, day out. Sometimes as a football player you want to coach them and develop them in the tactical and physical detail, but his personal development has been a pleasure to see and witness, especially this last month.
“He’s become a fantastic team-mate and I’m really proud of what he’s achieved today.”
Wanderers scored three times as they recorded their first-ever win at the Crown Ground, yet starting strikers Dion Charles – facing his old club – and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson endured some tough luck in front of goal.
Evatt was delighted by the impact made by his three initial substitutes – George Thomason, Elias Kachunga and Jack Iredale.
“The strikers didn’t score today but they did a lot of good work,” said the Wanderers boss. “I thought Elias Kachunga was absolutely brilliant when he came on, was a real handful. He grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and dragged everyone with him. I thought he was fantastic.
“Young George Thomason as well. Dion had one or two opportunities and chances and we have belief in him to score, as I do all the strikers. At the moment Jon’s having a tough time but he does not need to beat himself up. He just needs to relax, keep enjoying his football, play with a smile on his face and the goals will come back for him.
“We’ve got a really good squad of players, it’s really challenging to keep them all happy, but we think we’re in a good place and we just need to keep our heads down, keep working hard and keep believing in ourselves.”
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