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Josh Vela could make an incredible comeback for Wanderers against Birmingham City today.
The Academy graduate – frozen out under Dougie Freedman and forced to train away from the first team – is in contention for a starting position in Neil Lennon’s first game in charge.
The highly-rated midfielder appeared to have lost his way under the previous regime and had requested to go out on loan.
But Lennon brought back many of the youngsters exiled under Freedman in one of his first acts on the training ground this week and says he has been struck by the 20-year-old’s talent so far.
“We have had the likes of Tom Eaves, Conor Wilkinson, Josh Vela, Oscar Threlkeld and Zach Clough up with us,” he told The Bolton News. “And It is difficult for us in the first four or five days to make an overall impression.
“But Vela has done very well, he is in the squad and he might start. He is definitely one that has caught our eye.
“He has got aggression about him but he can pass the ball. He looks a decent player and is definitely in the squad.”
Lennon will have to do without Medo Kamara, who only travelled back from international duty with Sierra Leone yesterday.
Chris Herd also looks likely to miss the game after limping out of training with an Achilles problem.
Liam Trotter is pencilled in to play 45 minutes for the development squad in their game against Stoke City at the Macron on Monday night, while Mark Davies could feature in midweek against Charlton.
Other absentees Adam Bogdan and David Wheater are between 10 days and a fortnight from consideration.
However the return of Vela will please fans who criticised Freedman for failing to give his young players enough first team exposure.
Vela spent the last few months of last season on loan at Notts County and returned in good shape during pre-season.
But he failed to earn a place under Freedman, who claimed he was not fit enough to start for the seniors.
It is understood that in the final few days of the Scot’s reign Vela did not train with the first team – but his return to the fold under Lennon could well be a headline grabbing story in the Midlands today.
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The Academy graduate – frozen out under Dougie Freedman and forced to train away from the first team – is in contention for a starting position in Neil Lennon’s first game in charge.
The highly-rated midfielder appeared to have lost his way under the previous regime and had requested to go out on loan.
But Lennon brought back many of the youngsters exiled under Freedman in one of his first acts on the training ground this week and says he has been struck by the 20-year-old’s talent so far.
“We have had the likes of Tom Eaves, Conor Wilkinson, Josh Vela, Oscar Threlkeld and Zach Clough up with us,” he told The Bolton News. “And It is difficult for us in the first four or five days to make an overall impression.
“But Vela has done very well, he is in the squad and he might start. He is definitely one that has caught our eye.
“He has got aggression about him but he can pass the ball. He looks a decent player and is definitely in the squad.”
Lennon will have to do without Medo Kamara, who only travelled back from international duty with Sierra Leone yesterday.
Chris Herd also looks likely to miss the game after limping out of training with an Achilles problem.
Liam Trotter is pencilled in to play 45 minutes for the development squad in their game against Stoke City at the Macron on Monday night, while Mark Davies could feature in midweek against Charlton.
Other absentees Adam Bogdan and David Wheater are between 10 days and a fortnight from consideration.
However the return of Vela will please fans who criticised Freedman for failing to give his young players enough first team exposure.
Vela spent the last few months of last season on loan at Notts County and returned in good shape during pre-season.
But he failed to earn a place under Freedman, who claimed he was not fit enough to start for the seniors.
It is understood that in the final few days of the Scot’s reign Vela did not train with the first team – but his return to the fold under Lennon could well be a headline grabbing story in the Midlands today.
Source