MAYBE it was written in the stars that Bolton Wanderers fans should fall in love with a loan star called Paris?
Once he had announced himself with a goal in the 4-2 win at Wycombe in October, the Brentford midfielder has gone from strength to strength, finishing up the regular season with a Young Player of the Year award, nine goals and a massively bolstered reputation.
But for the 22-year-old Londoner, a product of the Tottenham youth academy who found a second chance after serious injuries in Brentford’s B Team set-up, he has also found a home away from home too.
Maghoma grew increasingly more influential in the Bolton midfield as the season went on and is now being looked upon as a real matchwinner in Ian Evatt’s squad as they seek to secure the final remaining promotion slot via the play-offs.
His relationship with the supporters also got stronger – and as the players took a lap of the pitch to show their appreciation after the final game against Port Vale, Maghoma’s name was the one being chanted above all others.
“Honestly there is no better feeling,” he told The Bolton News. “I know they have sung my name at games before but the first time I really noticed it was against Shrewsbury, the whole stadium.
“Honestly, I had tears in my eyes. That is something that every kid dreams of – from five, six years old, I have always wanted to play in front of a big crowd like that singing my name. it was unbelievable.”
Maghoma had loan spells with Wimbledon and MK Dons prior to moving to Bolton and had also appeared on the bench in the Premier League with his parent club.
But he came to the Toughsheet Stadium looking to become a more complete midfielder, a task he feels he has achieved.
“I said this to a couple of the lads before, I’ve had a lot of time out of football, injuries that kept me out for one or two years, coming here it was about getting confidence back into myself,” he said.
“The staff and players have helped me do that, and honestly, I think I am playing the best football of my whole career so far.
“I am getting back to the person I was before the injuries and it’s great.”
Wanderers go into the play-offs in reasonable form and have lost just once – at Derby – since March 2.
Though their efforts to finish in the top two ended on the final weekend of the season, Maghoma is encouraged by the way the team is playing, and upbeat about the club’s chances in the play-offs.
“I am confident, 100 per cent. You can’t be nervous going into this,” he said.
“I think we have the best squad in the league, the best players, the best manager, the best fans and the best club, so at the end of the day what we do in training, what we do in games from here on in, we have to produce and make it count.
“I honestly think we can get promoted this season.”
Ian Evatt has said he would “love” to work with Maghoma again next season and hinted that a permanent deal could be a possibility in the summer.
With a year left on his contract at Brentford, the player himself remains relaxed, eyeing only a trophy at Wembley for the time being.
“I love this club and I always will – but the only focus I have at the moment is promotion,” he said. “As long as we get over that line then everyone will be happy. That is my aim right now.
“The way the gaffer has treated us off the pitch is second to none. He has helped me so much mentally, not just as a footballer but as a person. Honestly, I am so grateful to him, and he knows it.”
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