IAN Evatt feels Declan John is thriving in his new role following Wanderers’ change of system.

The Welshman has impressed as a wing-back in recent weeks and is able to get forward more often than we he was part of a back four.

“During the season players can dip in and out of form, anyone can, and Declan did have a spell,” said Evatt.

“The way we play as a back four, or as a three and wingbacks, isn’t that different. If we were to talk about Declan’s strengths and weaknesses, you would say his strengths are attacking and his weaker areas are having too much work defensively. 

“The shift in system limits his weaknesses and gives him more strengths, and wing-backs in the way we play them are more like wingers.

“They are on the last line, attacking, crossing, one-v-one, and all of that plays to Dec’s strengths. It is defending the back post or one-v-one defensively which is where he can improve.  

“At the end of the day he is a League One footballer and everyone has strengths and weaknesses, so it is about playing to those strengths and hiding the deficiencies, which is something we are doing really well with Declan at the moment."

Will Aimson was used on the left side of defence against Charlton on Tuesday night, with George Johnston missing through illness.

“Will did fantastically on the wrong side on Tuesday but we would prefer to have balance," added Evatt.

"When you receive the ball on the left side of the three, if you can pass the ball with your left foot then you can break lines with your pass. Declan can then receive the ball higher up the pitch.

“When Will receives it on his right side then the shape of the pass is different, so it becomes more challenging and we need better pass options in midfield or further up the pitch. 

“Will was great the other night and every time he has played this season, he has never let us down. It is competitive at the moment and it is how we want it to be. 

“George missed out on Tuesday, Will came in, scored a goal, took his chance. That’s football.”