TEMITOPE Obadeyi has backed Wanderers young guns to fire when they get their chance.
The teenage striker has been on the substitutes’ bench for the last two games against Liverpool and Hull.
The England Under-20s hitman did not manage to get on the pitch on either occasion, but is one of a trio of players, along with Chris Basham and Robert Sissons, Gary Megson has introduced into his first team squad from the reserves in the last month. And Obadeyi is confident Bolton’s youngster can be relied upon should they be needed.
“I know we can make an impact,” he said. “If you’re given a chance then you’ve got to be able to take it.
“If you do that then you get another one and you’ve just got to keep going and do what you do best.
“It’s great that we’ve been in the squad together. Obviously we know the first team lads because we see them every day but it means you’ve got someone your own age to chat to who knows what you’re going through.”
Obadeyi, who turned 19 last month, is in his third year at Wanderers after joining from Coventry City.
The Birmingham-born forward, who can play on either wing, has been tipped for a bright future at the Reebok after impressing on the international scene last season.
He struck five goals in four games for the U19s, including a hat-trick against Romania, and was part of the Whites’ pre-season trip to Greece.
“It was amazing,” he said. “To play against AEK Athens and Rivaldo at the Olympic Stadium is what dreams are made of – it just doesn’t get much better than that. But being called up to the first team for the last two Premier League games is everything you could ask for as a young player.”
Obadeyi believes manager Megson has given Wanderers young stars the confidence to make their mark.
He added: “He is great around the training ground. He’s always joking with us and speaks to us a lot.
“If you’re a young player you need that from the manager because it gives you confidence so you’re thinking ‘I’ve got a chance here’.”
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