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Ian Evatt says Aaron Collins has “nothing to prove” against former club Bristol Rovers – but hopes he can produce more magic to help Wanderers’ promotion push.
The Welshman joined the Whites in January following a successful two-and-a-half-year spell at the Memorial Stadium.
Collins has scored five goals for Bolton so far, including a brilliant hat trick against Reading in front of a bumper crowd at the Toughsheet Community Stadium several days ago.
“He is that laid back he is horizontal at times,” Evatt grinned. “We are trying to get him to be a little bit more intense.
“But he is a very talented player and is getting used to how we play and what we expect of him. He is capable of really special moments, we saw that with the first goal (against Reading).
“That was an exceptional goal which settled the whole stadium and settled us as well. We know he is capable of those things as well as assisting.
“He has got nothing to prove to them and nothing to prove to us, we just want him to go there and be the best version of Aaron Collins. If he is, we know it is going to be good enough.”
Wanderers have been light in numbers up front in recent weeks, but one area where there are plenty of options is the middle of the pitch.
Josh Sheehan, George Thomason and Paris Maghoma have got the nod in recent weeks, with Kyle Dempsey and Aaron Morley looking to make an impact off the bench.
“We have got probably five starters in the middle of the pitch, who would probably get into most teams at this level and some higher,” the manager added.
“I think they all offer something different. Josh has arguably been our most consistent player this season. George’s development has not surprised me in any way, but it has accelerated so fast.
“Paris is a really technical, special player and Kyle and Aaron offer a dynamic – Kyle’s powerful running, his goalscoring prowess and the way he is in duels. Aaron, technically, is one of the most complete players we have got at the club.
“It is just finding that balance – it has been really good with the three who have played recently and we know the other two can step into that, we saw that on Monday.
“It is my job to try to keep them happy and pick the right ones for the right game.”
The Whites are set to have more options available in the final weeks of the season after a torrid run of injury luck.
“It obviously makes things more competitive,” Evatt stated. “It is going to be difficult again but I really want those decisions, I have been asking for them for the last few months.
“I am looking forward to having some options available to be able to make what I think is the right decision against the right opponent.”
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