A look at our latest couple of signings
Bolton`s squad is starting to take shape ahead of the new season. Three weeks today, we`ll have watched and dissected the opening game at home to Leeds, and some will have probably proclaimed the next club legend or have written off a summer signing.
Either side of the weekend we`ve made a signing, plus let Alex Samizadeh leave the club to move to Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock.
Friday saw Sammy Ameobi`s return to the Macron, as a permanent signing. As mentioned on these pages last week, there were was the need for a left-footed winger, I`d say left-sided but pre-season lineups seem to indicate we`re trying to go down the inverted winger route. Either way, it was a profile of player we didn`t have, and it`s a name that`s familiar with us. He adds a bit of chaos and unpredictability that never goes amiss.
Today saw a further incoming from Newcastle, as Adam Armstrong joined on loan from the Magpies until January. He has been a name that has been linked with us all summer and today finally saw the deal done. The striker has come off winning the U20 World Cup with England and a move to us is good for him and his parent club, and potentially us if it works out.
Armstrong`s reputation depends on which set of fans you speak to. Coventry City fans rate him very highly after a glut of goals in League One, but the pacey forward didn`t impress Barnsley fans last season in the Championship. He`ll only improve at his age though, and I don`t expect him to be an automatic starter, possibly even working as a Chris Long-type substitute option most of the time. A lot depends on the system we play, one up front would probably mean Madine starting more often than not. But Madine, Adam Le Fondre and now Armstrong give us a reasonable trio of forwards for our level and budget.