NOBODY in the Wanderers camp will appreciate being back on the green, green grass of home more than Jordi Osei-Tutu this weekend.

The 25-year-old wing-back has led a largely nomadic career since leaving Arsenal as a teenager, testing himself on the continent with German side Bochum, in Greece with PAS Giannina, interspersed with loans in the Championship and League One with Cardiff City, Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United.

Had he not suffered some ill-timed injuries he may have been more successful in establishing club roots but now Osei-Tutu hopes to achieve that level of stability with Bolton, going on to realise the potential he showed in those formative years.

“It’s a dream come true being back in England,” he said. “It would have been my third year in Germany and even though I’m still quite far away from London here, it’s still nice that my family can come to games whenever they want.

“It’s nice feeling comfortable again. Germany wasn’t easy living there with the language barrier and everything and my family couldn’t come to watch many matches. Now it is nice for them to come and watch every game, really.”

A first goal at Shrewsbury Town in the Carabao Cup in midweek will stand Osei-Tutu in good stead, as will a lively performance on the left side of the defence which has strengthened his case for inclusion on Saturday against Exeter City.

It was also the first time he had found the back of the net since April 2022, when he scored a 96th minute equaliser for Rotherham against Sutton at Wembley in the EFL Trophy final.

Though initially billed as a rival to Josh Dacres-Cogley on the right, the wing-back has shown in Germany, in the Championship at Forest and in League One with Rotherham that he is equally adept on the opposite flank.

“It’s not a problem for me,” he said. “I like to think of myself as an attacking full-back, so playing five at the back he likes the wing-backs to attack and I bought into the project right away.”

Wanderers brought Osei-Tutu in amid interest from other UK clubs and a few more in mainland Europe who had watched him progress at Bochum.

Asked what attracted him to the move, the defender said both the club’s ambition and style of play were big factors in picking Lancashire above the rest.

“Last season obviously the players got to the play-off final and fell short and now it’s in everyone’s minds to do one better, go for automatic promotion – but if it’s play-offs again, then win it and get promoted that way,” he said.

“The players are more than good enough to push for it, and then hopefully the year after that they are in the Championship and you never know what might happen after that.

“Of course, that’s the goal for me, get promotion, settle down and make Bolton home.

“I could have gone elsewhere but the manager presented me the project and it seems he has a lot of faith in me, so as soon as Bolton came knocking it was the right decision for me. I was very happy with the decision I made.

“We have a big squad and everyone is more than good enough to play. Every day we need to give 100 per cent in training and in matches we have to equal that and show the gaffer why we should be in the starting 11.”

The win against Shrewsbury in midweek was a response of sorts to the weekend’s defeat at Charlton and, hopes Osei-Tutu, is a “first step” back towards returning to winning ways with three points at stake this Saturday, and all the expectation that comes with it.

“I think it was important we bounced back and we have to show that Bolton are up there to contend for promotion,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say it is bad pressure because when we are at home the fans get behind us and it’s like you have an extra player on the pitch, the players enjoy that.

“To go away and make a statement like that (Shrewsbury) away from home gives us confidence for the home game and hopefully we kick on from there.”

Osei-Tutu has been pleasantly surprised by the volume and number of Wanderers fans who have backed the team at home and away so far this season, and now hopes to send them home happy on Saturday evening.

“I’ve been shocked by how good the fans are, and how many there are at away games,” he said. “We’re thankful for that and we have to repay them with results.

“Exeter will be aggressive, similar to Shrewsbury they will come at us. We can’t take anything for granted, we have to dominate the ball and finish our chances.”