Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt is looking forward to seeing his side pit their wits against higher league opposition.
The Whites are preparing for pre-season encounters with Watford, who were relegated from the Premier League, and Championship play-off final losers Huddersfield Town. There is also an upcoming clash against League Two Carlisle United, who finished the 2021/22 season strongly under Paul Simpson.
So far, Bolton have faced non-league outfits Chorley and Longridge Town, as well as Stockport County. Evatt's men drew 2-2 against last season's National League champions on Tuesday, with the game held at Carrington.
There are also friendlies against Atherton Collieries, Southport and Bamber Bridge to come, but Evatt already has his eyes on the big tests against second-tier opposition. With Wanderers set to play six more friendlies prior to their League One opener away to Ipswich Town, Evatt wants to see his team really raise their levels.
"Regardless of divisions, regardless of where the game was played, Stockport are a team that have been used to winning for a long time now," said Evatt. "When you come up against that tide of momentum, like we saw at the start of last season, it can be really challenging and difficult to play against.
"What was pleasing is that we did some real positive things, but one or two things we need to really work on. But the teams are very much mixed at the moment. The players are still training really hard, they’re not fully fresh and fit and ready to go for matchdays.
"We’re still trying to overload them to get that work into their legs, but as pre-season progresses we’ve got some really good games coming up. We’ve got Watford next week and then Carlisle and Huddersfield, so some real big tests and challenges that will start to build the minutes up into the lads and progress from there.”
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