MJ Williams on Bolton Wanderers return after setbacks and link-up with ex-Rochdale team mate

MJ Williams admits it was 'really tough' to come back to Bolton Wanderers after suffering a dislocated shoulder and Covid-19 but believes he has adapted his game to play a role he didn't feel he was capable of.

The former Liverpool youth product has played 37 times for Wanderers in all competitions this campaign.

But the ex-Blackpool man had a spell out of the team after suffered a dislocated shoulder in the loss to Wycombe Wanderers which kept him out for three games.

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He returned for the loss in mid-December against Accrington Stanley, but was part of a large group of players and football staff at Wanderers who tested positive for Covid-19 which meant Bolton did not have a game for some three weeks.

He returned in mid-January, which has coincided with a formation change with a switch to a 3-5-2 set-up.

That has seen a change in how Williams is deployed with, though he is still in the holding midfield role predominantly.

But the change has seen Williams playing more advanced at times in finding himself in pockets of space he perhaps did not expect to find himself.

He has enjoyed playing in this system with this refreshed role which means he perhaps does not have to defend as much as he previously has done and also playing with former Rochdale team mate Aaron Morley.

And he now feels back to full fitness as overcoming his shoulder and Covid problems, and is thankful for the belief shown in him by Ian Evatt and the style he wants him to play.

He said: “When I came back from my shoulder I got Covid, which was really tough. I was out for about six or seven weeks but I feel like I am back to full fitness now and