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Ian Evatt has praised Liverpool lads Conor Bradley and Owen Beck for the attitude they have shown since signing on loan for Wanderers.
The young defenders have been cleared to stay at the University of Bolton Stadium for the season, with Anfield coaching staff happy to see the progress they are making in League One.
Bradley had been eyed by a few Championship sides, including Preston North End, but should now remain with Bolton until May.
Evatt has discussed the changing mentality in his squad and how his younger players are starting to cope better with the pressures associated with playing for Wanderers in a promotion fight.
Bradley scored an 85th minute equaliser at Fleetwood in the previous game – paving the way for an even later winner for Dapo Afolayan. And the Bolton boss reckons both his Liverpool youngsters are having a positive effect on the squad.
He said: “[Fleetwood manager] Scott Brown said to me after the game ‘wow, Conor Bradley is some player’ and I said ‘absolutely he is, but do you know the best thing about him is and it’s his mindset and attitude’.
“His attitude is first class and Owen is just the same. Owen has come to a club after having a difficult time in Portugal not really getting any game time and he’s had to suffer and he’s had to wait, but his attitude, his mindset, his mentality has been first class.
“There has not been one issue for me and in fact, the complete opposite, he wants to come in, he wants to learn, he wants to understand what he needs to do better, why he needs to do better, and that’s a pleasure to work with.
“The two boys we’ve got from Liverpool, I can’t speak highly enough of what Liverpool are doing with them to give them that attitude and mindset and to make sure that they come out and represent the club like they are doing, but also those two will have really bright and good careers in the game, purely based on attitude before we even speak about their ability. Their attitude will get them a serious career in the game.”
Beck started his first game in League One, coming up against the physical Shaun Rooney at Highbury.
“I was delighted with him against Fleetwood,” he said. “That is as tough a debut as you’ll get, away at Fleetwood against a real challenging opponent, someone who is six foot three, six foot four, really athletic, really powerful, really strong, and clearly their game plan was to target that area of the pitch at every opportunity.
“I thought he was game and stood up to it. He didn’t win loads of first contacts, but I didn’t expect him to but what he did do was put him off and give him enough contact to ensure that he couldn’t head it where he wanted to head it.
“Second half he started to grow into the game and he actually said to me ‘I should have had a hat-trick’. I said ‘welcome to Conor’s world, Conor should be our top scorer!’
“These players are getting opportunities, they’re taking it on and taking the information on.
"They are getting themselves in the correct positions and I do believe Owen is going to be a really good player and I think he’s going to have an impact for us this season.”
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