Bolton Wanderers switch allows ex-Swansea City man to flourish in final third after form dip

The recent switch to using wing-backs has helped bring out Declan John's strengths in the final third at Bolton Wanderers, according to Ian Evatt.

Wanderers have changed to a back three with the use of wing-backs over the past month, with John lining up on the left flank of the pitch.

The former Swansea City defender had a dip in form earlier in the campaign, but he is now second on the list for assists this season at Wanderers behind Kieran Lee and also scored in the 6-0 thrashing on Sunderland.

READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt on Oxford United, League One ambitions and away form this season

The formation change has helped to hide John's defensive shortcomings at the back and allow him to express himself in the final third with greater success and his showcase his biggest strengths, in Evatt's view.

He said: “During the season players can dip in and out of form, anyone can, and Declan did have a spell.

“The way we play as a back four, or as a three and wingbacks, isn’t that different.

“If we were to talk about Declan’s strengths and weaknesses, you would say his strengths are attacking and he weaker areas as having too much work defensively.

“The shift in system limits his weaknesses and gives him more strengths, and wing-backs in the way we play them are more like wingers. They are on the last line, attacking, crossing, one-v-one, and all of that plays to Dec’s strengths. It is defending the back post or one-v-one defensively which is where he can improve.

“At the end of the day he is a League One footballer and everyone has strengths and weaknesses, so it is about playing to those strengths and hiding the deficiencies, which is something we are doing really well with Declan at the moment."

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