MJ Williams believes Bolton Wanderers squad depth which was extended in January will stand them in good stead for the upcoming season and feels his position of midfield will be an especially competitive area.
Wanderers are preparing for the new League One campaign which gets under way at the end of July. The Whites begin their season on the road against Ipswich Town.
Last season, Wanderers experienced a spell of poor form from October to early January which ultimately ensured they fell short in their desire to reach the play-offs. But their business in the January transfer window and run of results afterwards saw a strong second half to the campaign and a ninth placed finish.
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Wanderers invested heavily in revamping the squad in January, with midfielders Aaron Morley and Kyle Dempsey among the incomings. They complement what was already there in the form of Williams, George Thomason, Kieran Lee and Josh Sheehan, who is closing in on a return from an ACL injury.
Williams feels that the January transfer window signings are now fully up to date with how Wanderers like to play, something that the midfielder can be difficult to do mid-season. He joined the club in January 2021 from Blackpool.
But coupled with the relatively low number of signings this summer in comparison to previous transfer windows, Williams feels that the squad have been able to build on their work throughout pre-season. The squad size and depth now gives Ian Evatt the chance to rotate his side when required and Williams believes all the players are competing in a bid to be in the starting team for the League One curtain raiser against the Tractor Boys.
He said: “Every day there is competition but, absolutely, everyone wants to be in that team against Ipswich. We started last season really well but then we got all the injuries and the illness which knocked us down.
“This season I think we have two or three players for every position, so if someone is out for whatever reason then there are fresh legs to come in, whether that’s for a game or from the subs’ bench.
“It is good to have competitiveness but whether we’re starting or not, you have to be together as a team.
“It can be tough to join in January because it is half way through a season and you don’t get that many training sessions to teach them ‘our way’.
“This pre-season everyone has been together since day one and we have built on it, worked on something different every day.
“I think it is starting to show now in games that we are pressing higher and in positions when we get the ball to attack teams. You have to be able to keep the ball as well and we can do that as well.
“Whoever the gaffer picks, I am sure we will rotate at times. We have some top players in there and everyone can do different stuff.
“It will be great to see Josh back because he was fantastic for us last season. I loved playing with him. We have missed him a bit too.
“Kyle Dempsey and Aaron Morley have come in and done great, so we have a good squad and I think we can have a great season.”
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