Kieran Sadlier hopes his goal and performance in the pre-season friendly draw against Huddersfield Town is a convincing case to get in the Bolton Wanderers squad and team for the first game of the League One season.
Wanderers' first team were playing for the seventh and last time yesterday afternoon before the League One season gets under way next weekend. The Whites will travel to take on Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Town took the lead in the first half when Danny Ward headed home to put the Championship side ahead. But Wanderers built up a head of steam after the break and deservedly got back on level terms thanks to Sadlier coming off the bench to curl home a sublime strike and ensure the contest ended even with the final act of the encounter.
READ MORE: Why Jon Dadi Bodvarsson missed Bolton Wanderers' pre-season draw to Huddersfield Town
Sadlier knows full well that competition is fierce to get into Bolton's matchday squad of 18, let alone the starting team. But he hopes his cameo off the bench and strike helps ensure he is part of that group against the Tractor Boys.
He said: "It’s obviously a tough squad, we’ve got good strength in depth and I’m sure everybody is going to play a big part this season. But I’m delighted with the goal and the way I played when I came on.
"It is all I can do and all anyone can do trying to get into the team. Obviously, we don’t know the squad for next week but we have got very good strength in depth, and I think that is going to be very important this season.
"We worked on it (deliveries) a bit in training, just delivering the ball. I have got decent technique so I can cross the ball and it is good that I am in those positions to do that.
"I am delighted with the goal and to get into that position as well. We mix our game up a lot since last season as well – different kind of ways to attack the box – and obviously pleased with the way we did today."
Sadlier arrived in the January transfer window from Rotherham United and had time to find his feet at the club in the second half of last campaign. He has now had a full pre-season with Wanderers and believes the intensity and toughness of it has put them in a good shape for the new campaign in which they have set their sights high.
He said: "It has been very good. We have had a tough, intense pre-season. It started with the week in Portugal, which was really good.
"We are all at a level now where we are very fit and sharp. We scored late again today, so that proves that fitness comes out in the end and we had a tendency to do that last season as well, so that is a good trait to have.
"We back ourselves to do anything this season. We want to win the league and get promoted, that is our main aim. We will do anything to do that and along the way play nice football. Winning, that’s the most important thing, being ruthless."
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