THE “surprise package” of Bolton Wanderers’ pre-season training camp is starting to show he could make an impression on the first team this season
Charlie Warren joined the club this summer from non-league Felixstowe and Waltham United, hoping to see if a season with the B Team would help him get up to speed. However, after seeing his new striker score the opening goal in a 2-0 victory over Orlando Pirates in Marbella, Steven Schumacher acknowledges the 21-year-old is currently performing ahead of schedule.
“I have been really impressed with him,” remarked the Bolton manager. “As I mentioned, when we brought him in, we didn’t know what his level was. But what I would say to the lad, and he deserves credit for it, is that he came back in great shape. He is fit and strong. “He absorbs contact off players extremely well, and I’ve seen him go shoulder-to-shoulder with Chris Forino in training, which is difficult. He is not scared.
You can see he’s played a whole year of men’s football; he has quality, and his finishing is excellent. “He has a fantastic left foot, but he scored with his right, demonstrating amazing calm. It was not a simple ending. “He is one that we’ll be patient with, keep him around and hopefully help him try and improve.” Warren scored 34 goals for his team last season, but few realize they all came from wide positions, with only a few games played as a striker in the middle. “He can play as a nine,” Schumacher added. “He played as a ten.
We were talking with him this week, and, once again, being over here is a huge advantage, but he said he likes to cut in from the right side and then roll into those pockets of space because he’s bright and has a good left foot. “We will just keep him going and see how he matures and develops. There’s no pressure on him, but he’s shown that he can handle it thus far.”
Leave a Reply