Bolton Wanderers have today returned for pre-season ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
The squad has reported back to the club's Lostock training facility for the first day of their preparations for the upcoming season. Wanderers' 2021/22 campaign in League One came to a close more than a month and a half ago on April 30 as the Whites ended with a 4-2 win over Fleetwood Town.
The club's first season back in the third tier of English football was deemed a good achievement after finishing in the top 10 and amassing 73 points as a newly promoted side. Wanderers had harboured hopes of perhaps reaching the play-offs in a late charge but it was ultimately not to to be last season.
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The first team squad have reported back to the club today for the start of preparations for the 2022/23 season. They are then due to fly out over the weekend for a week long training camp on the Algarve in Portugal.
No games are planned for the week on the Iberian Peninsula. Bolton's first pre-season fixture will be on the road on Tuesday, June 28, against Longridge Town, a repeat of how Wanderers began their prep for the 2020/21 campaign.
Wanderers have made two new signings so far this summer. Jack Iredale was the first one confirmed in early May and has signed a three-year deal after a free transfer from fellow League One side Cambridge United, and was followed this week with the return of James Trafford on loan from Manchester City.
Iredale has linked up with his new team mates today and has been back out running at the club's Lostock training facility, according to videos posted on the club's Instgram account. He is poised to head off with the squad to Portugal this weekend.
Another encouraging sight has been veteran midfielder Kieran Lee also returning to running on grass ahead of the new campaign. Former Sheffield Wednesday man Lee was last in action for Wanderers in mid-February.
He went under the knife to have an operation on a heel spur which had been causing him discomfort. The midfielder did not play again to allow the wound to heal and ensure no risks were taken to allow him to be back for the start of pre-season.
Fellow midfielder Josh Sheehan has also been running with the group today in another encouraging sign as he continues his comeback from an ACL injury which ended his first season as a Bolton player prematurely last November. The Wales international returned to running on grass towards the end of last season.
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