IN the estimation of many Wanderers fans, the solution to Phil Parkinson’s problems has been right there the whole time – sitting a few years away on the substitute’s bench, in fact.

Such is the modern journalist’s job, engaging with readers on social media and encouraging interaction is one of the perks, or pitfalls, depending on your point of view.

I like to gauge opinion in the build-up to each game, ask supporters how they think Wanderers will fare, who’s due a goal, and what changes they would like to make to the team. And in the last two months, replies have consistently features a request for Adam Le Fondre to start.

They say you are always a better player when you are out of the team. But Alfie’s chief strength is unquestionably what Bolton have lacked. They are now nearly 11 hours without a goal – and no-one is more anxious to press reset on that particularly counter than yours truly.

Parkinson’s reasons for starting the striker just twice this season, in the first two games against Leeds United and Millwall, have been entirely tactical. There is not – to my knowledge – any personal issues, although I am quite sure any player worth their salt would be upset if he or she was not playing regular football.

In the manager’s estimation, Le Fondre works best in a two up front, and specifically a 4-4-2. When Wanderers have played that system they have been continually exposed in midfield, lacking players with the requisite physicality to stop over-loading and covering the distances needed in the central positions. It is not a new problem. Take a look at Wigan Athletic last season, or Wolves the season before that. Both clubs struggled to find a formation which could utilise Le Fondre’s unquestionable prowess in the penalty box, while still meeting the physical demands of Championship football. As a result, the former Reading man was left kicking his heels on the bench in exactly the same way he is right now, used more often than not as a last throw of the dice.

Karl Henry’s arrival as a natural defensive midfielder might open up a few more options for the Whites boss. The experienced ball-winner can bring more out of Josh Cullen and even Darren Pratley, who was much-improved at Bristol City the other night.

Josh Vela should also be somewhere near a starting place once the international break is out of the way, giving the manager another one of his most athletic players to select. And that might just mean Parkinson can release the shackles a little in his attack. Goodness knows, he has tried everything else.

Some Bolton fans – not unfairly – say fortune favours the brave.

They would rather see Parkinson expend all his attacking options in an effort to find that elusive win (heck, that elusive goal) and run the risk. It is certainly tough to make a case for the cautious approach after taking two points from 10 games and conceding 21 goals.

When Alfie arrived ‘home’ at Wanderers last January to great acclaim and his partnership with Gary Madine in League One was just about as watertight as it gets – 12 games, 10 wins and two draws. The two men shared 10 goals, six for Le Fondre and four for Madine, as Parkinson led the team to promotion.

Signing him permanently early in the summer was good PR, and the final say DID lie with the manager, regardless of rumour. The reality is, somewhere along the line, Parkinson has been unable to recruit the players he feels he needs to include Le Fondre in a system which works. Blame the embargo, blame the EFL, blame who you like – but you have to feel a little sorry for the player.

Wanderers go to Aston Villa today on a hiding to nothing. They are 9/1 ON for relegation with some bookmakers and 10/1 to beat Steve Bruce’s side on their own patch.

Is this the perfect time to throw away the blueprint? If he does, and Bolton are beaten at Villa Park, at least he could say ‘I told you so.’