'Perfect fit' - Bolton Wanderers midfielder sets personal aim ahead of new League One season

George Thomason is focused on playing for the first team at Bolton Wanderers regularly this season in an intensely competitive midfield and believes the management under Ian Evatt is a 'perfect fit' for him.

The 21-year-old made his debut for Wanderers under Evatt in November 2020. He has gone on to play 46 times for the club and score twice since then.

Thomason has featured regularly for the club during pre-season and has had a positive build-up to the 2022/23 campaign. He was last in action in the 3-1 loss to Carlisle United.

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Thomason is part of an intensely competitive central midfield department Evatt has at his disposal. MJ Williams, Kieran Lee, Aaron Morleyx, Josh Sheehan and Kyle Dempsey are among other options in that area of the pitch.

But Thomason - who was recruited from non-league Longridge Town in early 2020 - is relishing every opportunity he gets and is concentrating on playing as much as he can under Evatt's management. The youngster is aware of the competition he faces but believes time out of the squad and team last season has allowed him to improve and develop physically in a bid to become a better player.

He said: “I try and take every opportunity I am given. I try to implement the things we do during the week, on the ball, off the ball, and try to improve myself as a player which will give me the best possible chance to play games.

“I know my journey has been a little bit unique. I don’t think it is complete but right now I am focussing on being a Bolton player and playing for the first team regularly.

“Last season brought me a lot of different experiences, like playing in front of fans,