Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough believes Eoin Toal will do well at Bolton Wanderers and has watched the former under-21 international train at his new club as he assesses the defender's potential path to the senior international scene.
Central defender Toal made the summer switch to Wanderers from Derry City for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old signed a three-year contract.
Toal has made two appearances so far for the Whites. Both of these have come in the Papa Johns Trophy, with the most recent against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park on Tuesday evening.
READ MORE: 'Best feeling' - Josh Sheehan opens up on Bolton Wanderers return after long injury spell
Northern Ireland boss Baraclough has already seen Toal in training at the club's Lostock training base and believes the defender will do well at Wanderers, though he faces a challenge to get in the team and play regular football. Having the likes of Dion Charles and Conor Bradley there too is a bonus as well as Baraclough believes he is on the path to make the step-up to the senior Northern Ireland camp at some stage.
He told the Derry Journal : “I went to see him at Bolton training just after he moved over. He’d only just gone in and was finding his feet.
"Eoin is great, he’s someone I’ve worked with at an Under-21 level. He’s very level-headed and ambitious and I think he’ll do alright at Bolton.
“But he knows he’ll have to get into the team at Bolton and play regular football. He’s with familiar faces in Dion Charles and Conor Bradley as well, and he’s enjoying that companionship as well. But he’s on the right pathway to make the step up and hopefully he can.”
Don't miss a thing from the club you love! For all the latest updates on Wanderers , sign up to our free newsletter packed with all the latest news here.
READ NEXT:
-
Game dates for Bolton Wanderers' international call-ups in full as Ian Evatt expresses wish
-
Conor Carty lifts lid on Wolves exit, Bolton transfer & 'bittersweet' Wanderers goal vs Tranmere
-
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool messages to Conor Bradley as defender sets Bolton Wanderers goal
-
'Could have gone on holiday' - Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony's Bolton loss verdict
-
'Massive' - Liverpool's messages to Conor Bradley & long-term future amid Bolton Wanderers loan