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Dion Charles has been backed by Ian Evatt to keep on giving League One defenders nightmares – whether he starts a game, or not.
Bolton’s top scorer has started on the bench for the last two matches against Peterborough United and Stevenage but pleased his manager with his impact once he got on the pitch.
Charles netted his seventh goal of the season on Tuesday night to cap-off a 4-1 win at the Lamex Stadium, looking to have the bit between his teeth in the latter stages.
Asked if the striker had been ‘angry’ at his exclusion from the starting line-up, Evatt said he was delighted by the response he got, as Wanderers returned to the play-off positions in League One.
“I thought he looked good – and if angry relates to good, then I’m great,” he told The Bolton News.
“We have some excellent forward options and different games require different personnel. All of them have faced what Dion has faced in the last couple of games, they have all been out of the team, they have all waited for another opportunity.
“Provided he comes on and does what he did in both games – because I thought he was excellent against Peterborough as well – Dion is a nightmare for tired defences. The way he runs and presses, for those big ogres – I was one of them – the centre-backs who are fatiguing towards the end of the game when it gets stretched, Dion is the last person you would want to see.
“If for some games it must be like that, then so be it. It is my job to keep Dion onside.
“He is a massive player for us, and he knows he is going to play lots of games, it just so happens in the last two that I felt the balance needed against the type of opposition was the right one, and I think that was proven.”
Wanderers have rotated their front line in the first quarter of the campaign, with all four recognised front men receiving a similar number of league minutes so far.
Aaron Collins leads the way with 750, followed by Charles (728), John McAtee (628) and Victor Adeboyejo (604).
Keeping all four players motivated and happy represents a challenge to the Bolton boss, but he ‘Striker’s Union’ he spoke about at the start of the season is now starting to materialise.
“They are the money men,” he said. “There is a bit of ego and they want to be on the pitch and scoring goals all the time, and I am all for that. I love it.
“Provided it doesn’t spill over into a different type of aggression and frustration, and Dion plays like he has in the last two games, then there is no issue. I want them all to make my job really difficult, and they are doing.
“I’ve never seen an individual player win anything on their own. You get your own trophies, which look good on a mantlepiece, but for me it’s about the team and the team succeeding. That is the mindset I want them all to have.
“I want them all to have a common goal, and to want to play a part in reaching it. Whether you start or finish the game, it’s the same thing.
“I think our group are like that, I do. I know some get frustrated and annoyed but they have all channelled it the right way, and long may that continue.”
Charles missed a penalty after coming on against Peterborough – albeit Klaidi Lolos was on hand to score from the eventual rebound.
It was only the fourth time in the Northern Ireland international’s career that he failed to score from a penalty kick, his previous one coming in the FA Cup first round against Solihull Moors last season.
In total, Charles has scored 19 times from 23 attempts, which gives Evatt every reason to consider him first choice.
“I’ll back Dion,” he said. “He’s a penalty taker and he wants to take them. I’ll back him 100 per cent.
“He has scored so many goals for us. Pressure penalties – I’d want Dion Charles to take them.”
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