Wanderers could use Dapo Afolayan as a wing-back in the future as Ian Evatt looks at ways to get the best out of last season’s top goalscorer.

The Bolton boss revealed that he has studied footage of Chelsea from a few seasons ago when they successfully moved striker Victor Moses into a wider position – a move which has recently been replicated by current boss Graham Potter with England international Raheem Sterling.

Afolayan returned to Wanderers’ starting line-up last weekend against Barnsley and is expected to feature in the front line for today’s game at Accrington Stanley.

But Evatt says he is exploring other options for the former West Ham man, who found his best form last season playing on the left of a 4-3-3 formation.

“I don’t think it is necessarily about changing formation – the only real change we can make is maybe go one six and two eights in midfield instead of two sixes and a 10,” he said when asked about the possibility of changing the shape of his side to find more goals.

“I am looking at other things we can do. It is more about tweaking, rather than ruining what we do and starting again. Finding balance, a trade off.

“I have been watching Antonio Conte’s Chelsea in the last few days, for instance, and looking at how Victor Moses became a wing-back, rather than a forward or winger. We all know that Dapo wants to play off the left, attack, be a winger off that side, so can we tweak it to make that happen in this system? I think potentially we can. But it will take time and work.

“We are looking at these things all the time, how to improve, how to break teams down but without losing what we have already created because if we keep this going throughout the season it will only bode well for where we finish.”

Afolayan scored 14 times last season playing as a wide attacker and then moving into the middle as a number 10 or central striker.

His opportunities have been limited so far this season but Evatt has maintained the 25-year-old remains a “key player” in his squad.

“He was player of the year last season, started absolutely brilliantly, and there is huge expectancy on his shoulders,” the manager said earlier this month. “When you come out of the team, it would be easy for him to chuck the towel in and sulk, but he hasn’t done.

“His attitude has been first class and as a team-mate, he has been really good. The biggest area of Dapo’s personal development is that – being a really supportive team-mate when he’s not in the team – and I think what we have seen is he can definitely play that role.

“He is a fantastic player, really talented. He will definitely have a huge impact on this season.”