Ian Evatt says Bolton Wanderers have missed Josh Sheehan as he picked up his first League One minutes of the season as he knows the midfielder has been frustrated as he waited for his opportunity.
The midfielder has been back in action this season after returning from a ruptured ACL. The injury suffered last November ended his campaign prematurely.
So far this season, Sheehan has been kept to appearances in the Papa Johns Trophy for Wanderers. He had been involved in the previous four League One matchday squads but had been an unused substitute until last night's dramatic 2-1 win over Burton Albion.
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Sheehan came off the bench in the win during the second half to pick up his first League One minutes of the season and helped to make a difference as Wanderers came from behind to pick up three points. Evatt declared that Wanderers have missed one of the bright sparks from the first half of last season and knows the player has been frustrated as he waited patiently for a chance back in League One, but was pleased to see him back in action as he reflected further on the victory.
Evatt said: “He’s an excellent player. We’ve missed him. I’d argue that he was one of the bright sparks of early last season when things weren’t going well until the injury. It was an innocuous injury and sometimes those ones are always the worst.
“We missed him. Since he’s been back he’s had to be patient. He’s been frustrated and I know he has, but he’s conducted himself superbly, he’s been a good team-mate and he’s waited for an opportunity and today I thought when he came on, he showed signs of being and showing us what he can do and that’s probe, unlock doors, really clever movement and play, sees a pass, so I was pleased for him.
“It’s really difficult because everyone knows how we want to play and tonight we were disrupted. We weren’t allowed to play that way. There was glimpses and flickers of it throughout the game but we just couldn’t get any momentum, but we started gaining momentum from being a bit more direct, getting the big two upfront who were physical and strong and we got Sads and Conor running on the back line as well.
“Josh Sheehan probing, unlocking doors which he can do, Kieran Lee’s movement is excellent, just arrives in the box at the right time all of the time. We just got some momentum, a head of steam up and eventually broke the door down and got the win.”
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