IT has been 24 years since Tony Kelly’s last assist – but Josh Vela credited the Wanderers legend with a hand in his stunning goal against Millwall.

Some pre-match advice from the former Burnden Park favourite convinced Vela to take a more gung-ho attitude to shooting on Saturday, producing a most spectacular result.

The 17th minute strike set the Whites on their way to a compelling 2-0 win against a Lions side who had won their previous five games.

“I just saw the ball bounce up and thought ‘I’m having a go here’ and luckily it went in,” he told The Bolton News. “I’ll give Tony a bit of credit because he did tell me I needed to shoot more before the game.

“Once that first goal goes in we looked really good. I think we could have had more but we’ll take the 2-0.”

Tom Thorpe doubled the lead after coming on at half time for the injured Liam Trotter alongside fit-again skipper Jay Spearing – a presence Vela admits has been missing from the midfield.

“He’s the one that keeps it all together in the midfield and that gives me a licence to get forward and get goals,” he said. “He’s the cog – his talking, his passing, he’s the main man for us.”

After a few seasons of being shifted from pillar to post, Vela has now found a settled position in Wanderers’ team.

Playing just behind the front man, the 22-year-old has added four goals to the Whites’ cause and feels the structure built by Phil Parkinson has made the team a force to be reckoned with in League One.

“I played in the number 10 role in the Under-18s and if I get chances I’ll score goals. I like playing further forward and it gives me a chance to get behind,” he said. “I’m the leading press guy who can force mistakes. The manager is massive on shape. Once we lose possession he likes us to get back in position as quickly as possible, get the breather and then go again. And it has really worked. It has been brilliant this season. This was our 10th win, which when you look at how last season went is incredible.

“We want to stay in this position, go into Tuesday against Coventry and get another win.

“There are a lot of games in this league but you just need to prepare right. This league is hard. You can’t be fancy. It doesn’t matter how you win.”

Parkinson’s influence has also brought out the best in loanee Sammy Ameobi, another player to produce some moments of magic against Millwall.

“It’s credit to the gaffer because Sammy is working really hard for the team, then when you give him the ball he can take six or seven players on, no problem,” Vela said. “He’s frightening.”