Alex Bruce is on trial, but do we have enough centre halves already?
Bolton`s 100% pre-season ended with a 0-0 draw up at AFC Fylde tonight. Will Buckley and the newest of signings Adam Armstrong went close, but former Wanderers keeper Jay Lynch stood his ground and the side recently promoted to the National League (or to give it it`s correct name, the Vauxhall Conference) couldn`t be broken down.
Looking fairly solid at the back, but not as strong in attack, a new trialist came into the fold in the shape of defender Alex Bruce, son of Aston Villa manager Steve, who has been released by Hull City.
A capable defender at this level, I suppose you can`t really have too much against the signing of a player who knows this division well, but in terms of players we have who play centre back at the moment, do really really, urgently, need a centre-half?
Potentially if we regularly end up playing three at the back, as we started tonight, but the priority at the moment should be acquiring a left-back. We have Wheater and Beevers, while Dorian Dervite signed a new deal this summer and Derik is still around. In any case, Phil Parkinson has said that we’re looking at him for the week, so I suppose it’s case of let’s see what happens over the next few days.
Meanwhile, Reading are apparently in the market for a new goalkeeper after one of our former charges, Ali Al-Habsi, left to move to Saudi Arabia. Many will be hoping the Royals come in for a move for him.