Bolton Wanderers boss Steven Schumacher has spoken about former Trotters man Aaron Morley, as he prepares to face his former club for the first time since his permanent exit.
The 26-year-old joined Wycombe Wanderers in January, following his successful loan period in the first half of the 24/25 campaign.
Point To Prove
Morley has enjoyed a superb start to his Chairboys career, scoring twice in seven appearances in Buckinghamshire. That includes a fine matchwinner in midweek to see off Barnsley, a result which moved Wycombe into the League One play-off positions. Morley is closing in on the same number of starts from the first half of the campaign at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, having fallen down the pecking order in Lancashire.
Speaking to The Bolton News ahead of the clash with Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow afternoon, Schumacher had the following to say on his ex-player.
“I think naturally your adrenaline foes a little bit more against your old club, coming up against old faces – even though he only left a few weeks ago. I’m sure Azzer [Aaron Morley] will feel he has a point to prove to us. That’s what you do, you try and say ‘I should have been in your team’ to the manager, and that is completely understandable.
“I haven’t got a bad word to say about Aaron Morley. He is a top lad, a really good character, a good player, a good trainer and he only wanted to move on because he wanted regular game time.. I have said on the record loads of times that I think he’s a really good footballer but he was struggling to break into the team to get a regular starting position and that isn’t what he wanted at this stage of his career.”
Huge Weekend In League One Promotion Battle
As the season creeps closer to the finish line, every League One matchday has an even greater significance on the final standings. However, this weekend’s fixtures appear to be more important than most, with the top two sides going head-to-head. Leaders Cardiff City host title rivals Lincoln City in the lunchtime kick-off, giving the chasing pack a chance to take in that result before the 3 pm fixtures.
Stockport County aren’t in action, as their game against Mansfield Town has been called off due to the Stags’ mouth-watering FA Cup tie against Arsenal. With Bradford City having a favourable home fixture against relegation-threatened Leyton Orient, Bolton’s fixture against Wycombe holds even greater significance. In the knowledge that victory would see them gain on at least one of the teams in the automatic promotion places, that has to serve as great motivation for Schumacher and his players to take all three points tomorrow afternoon.