JOSH Vela trained for the first time with the Wanderers first team squad yesterday and is on course for a playing return after the international break.

The midfielder has been out since the opening day of the season with ankle ligament damage but his return on Friday afternoon gave the Whites a welcome boost as they boarded the team bus for the Midlands, and today’s game at Aston Villa.

Phil Parkinson believes his squad will be a different prospect after the week-long break.

“It was great to see Josh back out there on the training pitch for the first time, and we’ve had Sammy Ameobi getting some minutes, Will Buckley back in there again after completing his rehab work with Matt Barrass, Karl Henry coming in has also been a positive sign – they are all plusses for me.

“Now if we can get a result at Villa Park it would be a massive bonus going into the break and give us something to build on with a stronger squad after the break.”

Parkinson has come under fire from fans in recent weeks as Wanderers suffered seven consecutive defeats for the first time in 114 years.

But while he continues to get support from chairman Ken Anderson and indeed life president Eddie Davies, the Whites boss says he has had no problem keeping himself motivated for the challenges ahead.

"I am resilient," he told The Bolton News. "I'll keep going because I genuinely think we can win games and pick up points with this group of players. It won't just fall for us, as I keep saying, we have to work hard."