CRAIG Noone is “ready to go” tomorrow if Wanderers decide to change their shape against Middlesbrough.
Signed from Cardiff City on deadline day, the winger is poised to make his Bolton debut after impressing Phil Parkinson over the international break.
Noone had not featured for the Bluebirds since the end of last season but completed a full pre-season schedule in South Wales, giving the Whites boss no concerns about throwing him in from the start, if needed.
“He’ll go straight into the squad and we’ll make a decision on whether that’s in the starting 11,” he said. “He’s been training at Cardiff all the time and has been involved in pre-season so we’ve had a look at him and been pleased with what we’ve seen.”
Questions have been asked of the 3-5-2 formation used by Parkinson since the start of the season and he admits the addition of Noone gives him the option of moving to a different shape.
Sammy Ameobi is still a couple of weeks away from getting involved but the injury list is starting to diminish.
“We said right at the start of the season that when we lost Sammy (Ameobi) and Josh (Vela) that it made it difficult to go 4-2-3-1. They were key players to lose,” he said.
“Bringing Craig in and having Sammy not far away, making good progress, means we have better options, good pace and energy in the wider areas.
“Those players tend to cover the most distance and at the highest intensity as well, so at 60-70 minutes the fresh legs can be the difference between winning and losing.”
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