'Very unlucky' - Ian Evatt makes Bolton Wanderers defender admission ahead of Morecambe clash

Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt believes defender Will Aimson was 'very unlucky' not to start the season and feels he will be a 'very important' player for the club this season.

Aimson got his first League One minutes of the campaign on Saturday in the goalless draw against Port Vale. He came on at half-time to shore up the Bolton defence following the dismissal of skipper Ricardo Santos.

The 28-year-old is part of a strong central defensive area of the Wanderers squad, but Evatt believes Aimson has never let anyone down when he has played and has a good record when playing for the team. With Santos suspended for today's game versus Morecambe, Aimson is the likely candidate to replace him in the heart of the back three.

READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt on Morecambe, team selection, injury news & home form

Evatt believes the defender has improved with his understanding of how to play in central defence for Wanderers as his time at the club has gone on. The suspension of Santos shows that games and opportunites can come around and the Bolton boss believes Aimson will be an important player for the Whites this campaign.

He said: “I’m really pleased with Will. He was very unlucky not to start the season. I thought he had a really good pre-season.

“He’s a valued member of the squad. I think everytime he’s played for us, he’s never let us down. Rico (Santos) was missing for the last five or six games of the season last season, Will played every game and I think we won the majority of those. His record in the team is pretty good.

“He never lets anybody down, he knows exactly what to do, can defend one v one in big spaces, can handle the ball. He’s an important player for us.

“I think he’s just getting an