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Kieran Lee is adding a darker side to his game to aid Wanderers ’ promotion push.
The experienced midfielder has impressed Ian Evatt with his defensive work over the last few games, including a man-of-the-match display against Portsmouth at the weekend.
Lee is out of contract in the summer by even at the age of 34 is setting a high bar for the rest of the Bolton midfield.
And Evatt believes his extra work off the ball has been a big factor in the club’s positive start to the New Year.
“He is a delight to watch,” said the Bolton boss. “The players love him. He’s the quiet, silent assassin, but a really good and experienced player. He just drifts and floats in games, finding some really intelligent positions.
“I think he has actually become a bit nastier, which I like to see. At Barnsley and against Portsmouth he won his duels, made some really good duels and 50-50s, which you don’t necessarily associate with Kieran Lee.
“But he has bought 100 per cent into the out-of-possession stuff that we have been doing, along with the in-possession, and he is playing really well at the moment.”
Lee’s “nasty” side has been well-hidden in a 17-year professional career to date. The midfielder has picked up just one red card in 435 senior appearances, that coming in April 2010, playing for Oldham Athletic at Huddersfield Town.
His value to Wanderers since signing on a free transfer in January 2021 has been considerable, and though Evatt says he has had to control which games Lee features in, he remains one of the most effective players at his disposal.
“We have had to manage him strategically, try to be smart, target certain fixtures,” he said.
“When we can get him off the pitch because the job is done, we do so, give him some rest and support. And as long as we can keep him in one piece he is a huge player for us.”
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