XAV Amaechi has been told what he must do to finally get regular football at Wanderers.
The former Arsenal winger has started just two games for Bolton this season.
Amaechi missed a large chunk of the campaign after fracturing his metatarsal in pre-season but since his return in November he has failed to gain any regular game time.
Wanderers extended his loan from Hamburg in January but he has since played just a dozen minutes of football as a substitute.
Ian Evatt maintains the 21-year-old can still change that between now and May, provided he simplifies his game.
“Consistency with decision making is the key part to Xav’s game,” said the Wanderers boss.
“He has got a lot of talent, there is no denying that, but we have to see a consistent version of him.
“We have to understand what you are going to do in certain positions so the teammates can react off that, they can trust your decision making.”
Amaechi said in November that he saw a spell with Wanderers as a ‘shop window’ and hopes to return to English football next season.
The youngster has shown in flashes what prompted Evatt and his recruitment team to bring him to the UniBol but with just eight games remaining this season, time is running out if he wants to leave a good impression.
Evatt believes part of Amaechi’s problem has been the pressure the winger has put on himself – but after creating an equalising goal in injury time for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson against Morecambe last week, the manager hopes it can be a turning point for his Bolton career.
“He just wants to impress, it’s as simple as that,” Evatt said. “He wants do really well but sometimes simplicity is genius, and that’s what he has to do.
“He needs to simplify his game, be consistent with that, keep working hard and wait for your opportunity.
“He came on the other night and set up the goal, so that’s credit to him.”
Meanwhile, Wanderers’ home game against Portsmouth, which was due to be played on March 26, has been postponed because of international call-ups on both sides.
The game has now been swapped to Tuesday, April 5, with all tickets purchased still valid for the rearranged game.
EFL rules say a club can request that a game be postponed if they have three or more senior players called up for international duty.
Dion Charles had already been selected for Northern Ireland’s friendlies against Luxembourg (March 25) and Hungary (March 29).
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson could travel to play for Iceland, who face Finland and Spain, and James Trafford may also be called up to play for England’s Under-20s, who face Poland and Germany.
Joe Morrell has made the Welsh squad for Portsmouth, with Gavin Bazunu and Ronan Curtis (both Republic of Ireland) also expected to be absent for the international break.
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