Ian Evatt believes Conor Bradley can improve all aspects of his game at Bolton Wanderers this season and has been tracking the Liverpool youngster since undertaking his coaching licences in Northern Ireland.
The 19-year-old is spending the season away from the Anfield club on loan at Wanderers. He has caught the eye with his early performances for the League One side at right wing-back.
Bradley won a penalty in the opening game of the season against Ipswich Town which ended in a 1-1 draw. He then notched an assist from open play over the weekend in Bolton's 3-0 victory versus Wycombe Wanderers.
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Evatt wanted to bring Bradley to Bolton in January, but with the Northern Ireland international in Liverpool's first team squad at that time, the move had to be put on the back burner. But a return this summer was successful and Bradley will be at Wanderers for the campaign.
The Bolton boss undertook his coaching qualification and all the relevant licences in Bradley's home nation of Northern Ireland. During his time there, Evatt became aware of Bradley being a player to watch moving forwards.
Evatt discussed Bradley's potential and how he feels that the 19-year-old can improve all aspects of his game over the upcoming year. He believes this will be key for his aims of being a regular for Liverpool and Northern Ireland.
The Bolton boss said: "I did my pro-licence and all my coaching licences in Northern Ireland and very early on the relationships there were saying ‘Conor’s one to keep an eye on’. We started watching him and were very impressed with what we saw. Last January we tried to get him but he was very much in Liverpool’s first team plans.
“Then the opportunity became available this summer and we grabbed it with both hands. There’s a long season and a long way to go but we’re really pleased with what we’ve got so far.
"I just think you should always be looking to improve all aspects of your game. His athletic profile is perfect for that position. He obviously needs to do a lot of work in the gym but he’s 18, 19 years old and that’s going to come as he grows and develops as a young man, but to get to that elite level and the top of the game we’re talking about here - Liverpool and international football, Champions League - he has to be the best or one of the best in that position.
“He has the potential to be but it’s only potential at the moment. It’s about realising that potential but the most important thing for me is his attitude and work ethic and if he keeps that up and stays humble, he’s got a really bright future.
“He needs to constantly improve all aspects of his game, but he does and he works on it relentlessly, so we’re really pleased with him. We’re not surprised at all because we do a lot of due diligence on these players and our relationship with Liverpool is a strong one, so we’re pleased and hopefully he’ll continue to develop throughout the year.”
Evatt feels Bradley has been a 'good fit' automatically at Bolton due to the teenager's coaching at Liverpool. He believes the way Jurgen Klopp wants his full-backs and wing-backs to play is similar to how they are asked to operate at Wanderers.
And he believes the move is good for both clubs for that very reason. He said: "Going back to the recruitment and the work that myself and Chris Markham and the analysts do, when you’ve got a philosophy and identity, it becomes easier to recruit to and we know the way Jurgen and Liverpool coach their full-backs and wing-backs is very similar to what we require from ours so it’s automatically a good fit.
“It’s a good fit for Liverpool because they know he’s going to come here and be played and taught the same way and also a good fit for us because we don’t have to work on him from scratch and from day one. He’s already used to doing it and I think we’re seeing the benefit of that.”
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