Elias Kachunga believes he has shown the quality he has in his first season with Bolton Wanderers despite 'unlucky' injuries but is aiming to keep his performance levels high as the season approaches its climax.
Kachunga joined Wanderers on the eve of the 2021/22 season beginning and put pen to paper on a two-year contract at Wanderers.
The 29-year-old attacker has played 34 times in all competitions this season since making the switch from Sheffield Wednesday and scored four times.
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Kachunga joined Wanderers having departed the Owls last summer and arrived at Bolton having not got a pre-season under his belt.
The attacker was hitting his stride at Bolton when he picked up a thigh problem in early January, which meant he was out of action until recently.
But Kachunga believes he has shown his quality this campaign and is looking forward to contributing as the season approaches its climax.
He said: “At the start I came with no pre-season with the team but then got stronger and stronger.
“I then had a really strong run of games and I think I showed what quality I have.
“Injuries are unlucky but it is what it is. I need to try and keep my performance at a high level and then see where we end it.
“These things happen. It was frustrating but I am now old enough to know what to do when you get injuries. It is part of the job.
“It is your responsibility to get back as soon as you can, fit and back into the team, and I am looking forward to the next games."
Kachunga made a positive impact off the bench in his last game, winning the free-kick which led to Amadou Bakayoko scoring a dramatic late winner against Crewe Alexandra on the road.
The Gresty Road pitch was not the best playing surface in the world and led to a more direct encounter at times.
But Kachunga believes games on better pitches are coming up which will suit Bolton better and, if Wanderers can continue to keep clean sheets, then they have the quality on the pitch to win encounterS.
He said: “Pitches like that, you can’t go and play nice football, you have to win the game with set pieces or get on a mistake and win the game.
“We have games coming up on better pitches and we can play better football but we still have to work together and make sure at first we don’t concede.
“If there is no goal then you can win it at the end, so we have to keep up that performance.
“There are a few games left and last week was a bit unlucky – I could have scored with my first touch. That’s football.
“Against Crewe I got the free kick, so I have influenced already those two games.
“I don’t look at goals or assists, they would be perfect, but if I my performance can help us win games that is all that really matters to me."
