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Wanderers are looking to send two of their top young talents out on loan at the start of the season.
Midfielder Nelson Khumbeni and full-back Max Conway have caught the eye for the club’s B Team over the last 12 months – and both have worked closely with Ian Evatt this summer to help the senior side’s preparations for the new campaign.
Injuries and illnesses have left the Bolton boss short on numbers for the opening three friendlies – but with new signings expected soon and Ricardo Santos back in full training, Evatt says he can start looking to match some of his players up with the right clubs for a loan move.
“We have needed them,” he told The Bolton News. “There are players who have done okay in the short spells that we have seen them – and Nelson’s development was a real highlight of the B Team for me last season in particular.
“The next step for him now is becoming more important. We probably need to look for a League Two loan for him because he is at that standard at the very least at the moment and he needs to play consistent football.
“Hopefully we can find something that suits him and lets him continue that upward curve.
“Max Buxton went out on loan to Buxton last year and did really well, and we are looking to progress him with a loan higher up the chain as well.”
Khumbeni, 20, joined the club last summer from Norwich City and made his senior debut in the Carabao Cup against Salford City last year.
Conway played 26 games for National League North side Buxton last season, including an FA Cup second round tie at Ipswich Town.
He has yet to make his Whites debut but has now featured heavily in two consecutive pre-seasons for Evatt and it is hoped the 19-year-old can get experience at National League level soon.
Wanderers have given their younger players plenty of loan experience in the last 18 months, with striker Conor Carty currently impressing at St Patrick’s in Ireland.
It is hoped that the B Team itself will become a stronger entity after its first full year in operation.
Matt Craddock’s side beat Longridge Town 5-2 in their latest outing and have added a few new signings to their core squad, which competes in the Central League alongside a schedule of friendlies.
“The B Team is important to us and it will improve this season,” Evatt said. “The lads have developed more, physically, and we have added some more quality in the likes of Trevon Bryan and Ben Andreucci.
“I think it is exciting but we know that it will take time. Are there players knocking on the door of the first time right now? No. Probably not. But we are hoping that they will be soon with some experience and some training in the coming months, along with the right attitude.”
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