The Bolton Wanderers squad is due to report back for the start of pre-season today ahead a week of training in Portugal.
Wanderers' season in League One came to a close more than a month and a half ago on April 30 as the Whites ended the 2021/22 campaign with a 4-2 win over Fleetwood Town. Bolton ended the season eight games unbeaten and in ninth place.
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 club finished 10 points from the top six in the end. Wanderers aim to make a promotion push in the upcoming campaign and the bookmakers have Ian Evatt's side among a cluster of clubs tipped to do that in a tight and competitive division.
The first team squad are due to report back 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.
James Trafford's return from Manchester City for a season-long loan was confirmed earlier this week. The second signing of the summer, however, will not be part of the squad heading out to Portugal as he has a short break following his recent spell with England under-21s.
More reinforcements are being sought by Wanderers over the summer, for the first team and the new B team too. Two new signings in the form of Nelson Khumbeni and Lynford Sackey were confirmed for the latter set-up yesterday.
Reports suggest Wanderers have approached Liverpool over taking Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley on loan for the upcoming campaign. The Liverpool Echo reports that the Premier League outfit are considering the transfer for the right-back as talks take place.
The pre-season fixture schedule will see Wanderers' first team and B team in action over the course of a busy July. As well as Longridge, games against Chorley, Stockport County, Atherton Collieries, Carlisle United, Bamber Bridge, Huddersfield Town and Southport are planned before the League One season gets under way at the end of July.
