'We had a bit of a heart to heart' - Evatt explains Declan John return at Bolton

Declan John looks set to stay with Wanderers in January after a positive meeting with manager Ian Evatt.

The Welsh wing-back made his first league appearance since October as a half-time substitute for George Johnston in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Charlton Athletic.

John had slipped out of contention in recent months, with Evatt saying his performances had lacked the consistency of the previous season.

Wanderers are understood to have turned away offers from at least one League One club to take John on loan for the rest of the season.

But his situation looked grim after the signing of Randell Williams left him well down the pecking order.

John’s situation has improved dramatically in the past couple of weeks, however, with Owen Beck returning to Liverpool and Kieran Sadlier moving out on loan to Leyton Orient.

Asked about his change in fortunes after Saturday’s game, Evatt added: “We had a bit of a heart to heart myself and Declan last week, off the back of how he has been training more than anything else. He has been training superbly well.

“He looks back to his old self, enjoying his football again, and at that moment it is time to reintegrate him into the group.

“Second half I think he showed what he can do for us. I am really pleased with him.”

Evatt also had some words of praise for Aaron Morley, whose stunning free-kick put Wanderers on their way at the Valley.

The former Rochdale playmaker has enjoyed a stellar run in the side since mid-December, starting the last nine league games.

And part of the reason, said the Whites boss, is his better understanding of the defensive side of the game.

“He is a really young, technical football player with a huge amount of capability,” he said.

“He is well capable of that type of thing. I wasn’t surprised to see it go in at all.

“For someone of 22 years of age he is developing and learning the game all the time.

“The technical side of the game is what he is best at but the most pleasing thing for me is how he is learning his responsibilities for the team, his out-of-possession work for the team.”

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Something going on here?

End of last season there was no question John was our left wing back.

Gordon was let go, so we needed cover.

So far everything just normal.

Then out of seemingly nowhere, Iredale was signed (he seems really to be the left side of a back three player), Beck was brought in as back up, and John was frozen out.

Iredale has not really made a success as a wing back, Beck was sent back and Randell Williams signed in this window (who looks more like a Sadlier type player to me - someone more of a winger who at a push can play wing back - rather than wing back being his position).

Yesterday, with Iredale now being out for the season and Sadlier and Owen having left the club, Gethin Jones was picked to play left wing back with Williams - who was presumably brought into play there(?) - on the bench.  

Strange then that John was also on the bench as well?

During the game Johnstone was injured, meaning Jones moved back into the back three and who came on to play - not Williams who seemingly was only just signed this month to play there but John who has been out in the cold all season up to now and with everyone expecting him to leave in this window.

I'm guessing that whatever has happened off stage, that Evatt has finally realised that John is the only proper left wing back we've got for the rest of the season - and that's why he was brought on over Williams and all the kissing and making up in this article above, is all about John returning as our regulat left wing back for the remainder of the season.