Carlos Mendes Gomes is determined to make the most of his ‘fresh start’ after signing for Bolton Wanderers in the summer, as reported in The Bolton News.
The versatile attacker joined Wanderers from Premier League new boys Luton Town and is already enjoying life at the Toughsheet Community Stadium as he looks to get his career back on track following limited time on the pitch over the last few seasons. Dakar-born Gomes enjoyed his most productive season with Morecambe in League Two during the 2020-21 campaign where he managed 15 league goals as The Shrimps sealed promotion. It was this impressive form that persuaded then Championship outfit Luton to chase his signature.
The former Fleetwood Town loanee had a somewhat unusual path into English football as he joined West Didsbury from the youth set up at Spanish giants Atletico Madrid before earning a move into the Football League with Morecambe.
What’s Been Said?
Following his move from The Hatters to Lancashire, Gomes expressed his delight with the move, saying, “It is a fresh start for me, and I have loved it since minute one – it has been like a family here and I am also close to my own family too, so that makes everything easier.”
“Everyone knows Bolton Wanderers are a big club, and everyone knows we want to play at a higher level, so hopefully we can achieve our objective at the end of the season.
He continued by adding how impressed he has been with the fans and how the added pressure they provide is an enjoyable one: “I think we have started well. It is a lovely pressure to have being in the top positions and having expectation on us to win every week if we are at home or we are away.”
“I think we have the best fanbase in the league, we show that every away trip selling everything out. We know that the expectation is there, but I think it pushes us and makes us play, we appreciate it.
“It does make pressure, but I think we have started well. The Wigan result was not us, we were not ourselves, but we know we have to be better than that.”
Writer’s View
Bolton Wanderers are a big club at this level and will have their sights set firmly on achieving promotion back to the Championship. If they can keep their new attacker fit and he is able to rediscover the form he showed in the successful Morecambe side then his contribution could be vital to reaching that goal.
The player will be looking to not only cement a regular spot in the starting eleven but also to nail down a position as he looks to get some consistency back into his game.
