Interest in Bolton Wanderers’ striker Connor Carty is on the rise in the lead-up to the January transfer window, according to a report by The Bolton News.
The 21-year-old signed for the Wanderers in September 2022, after being released by Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers. He immediately hit the ground running, scoring on his debut in a substitute appearance against Tranmere Rovers in the Papa Johns Trophy.
The Ireland Under-21 international could not force his way straight into the senior squad at the ToughSheet Community Stadium so he spent two loan spells in the National League, with Oldham Athletic and Gateshead FC.
In February, the striker then secured a loan to St. Pats Athletic in the League Of Ireland, where he subsequently scored six goals in 41 appearances in all competitions, in a season that culminated with the Irishman helping his team lift the FAI Cup at the Aviva Stadium in November.
Matt Craddock, Bolton first-team coach, has been tasked with monitoring Carty’s progress in Ireland. ‘We will reassess everything in January’ Craddock told The Bolton News.
‘I feel it would be a good loan, again, which gives him an opportunity to showcase himself further. After that, as with all players, you give an opportunity, and it is down to them to take it. He did that in Ireland and showed he could do the things we wanted him to do.’
He went on to praise the youngster’s development. ‘Really, it was all about out-of-possession work, his work rate, understanding how and when to press, and anyone who watched him this year will say that area has come on so much. Suddenly now he looks like a player.’
Bolton are currently second in the league, three points clear of third place and three points behind league-leaders Portsmouth.
Writer’s View
This season, the Trotters have been deploying a two-striker formation in the majority of their games. With their aspirations this season being for the automatic playoff places, squad depth could be the key for a consistent second-half of the season.
However, with Dion Charles, Victor Adeboyejo, Dan Nlundulu and Cameron Jerome likely being ahead of Carty in the squad, it may be damaging to his long term development to not send him back out on loan in January.
Ultimately, it is likely that Bolton will want to re-use the loan market for the striker, and it would be expected that an English side would want to take a chance on the former Wolves man for the second half of the season after his impressive stint in Ireland.
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