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Three To Watch Bolton (A)

Can Reading bounce back with a win? Here are three Bolton players to keep an eye on.

West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers - Carabao Cup Third Round
Will this man come back to haunt his former club
Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Mark Little

Mark Little is a new signing at the Macron Stadium, having arrived on a free transfer from Bristol City in the summer. Playing at right-back, the 29 year old has become a key man for manager Phil Parkinson’s side, appearing in 12 out of Bolton’s 17 league games this season.

In terms of his playing style don’t expect him to get forward too much. This can be seen by the fact he averages one dribble per game, suggesting that he tends to stay back most of the time.

However, Little isn’t afraid to put a tackle in. He has the second most tackles of anyone in the Bolton side (3.3) and the seventh best in the league. It could therefore be a tough night for Reading’s left winger - likely Roy Beerens or Modou Barrow - due to Little’s ability to make life difficult for wingers.

Sammy Ameobi

Sammy Ameobi is another summer arrival on a free, this time coming in from Newcastle United. The 25 year-old has made a decent start to life at Bolton with three goals in eight Championship games.

Playing on the right side of midfield, Ameobi loves to get shots away. This is shown by the fact that the former Newcastle man has averaged 2.5 shots per game - to put that into perspective, Modou Barrow has averaged just 1.8 shots per game.

Additionally, Ameobi is the type of player that tends to track back and help his team out. For example the winger has averaged 2.4 tackles per game, suggesting that he isn't afraid to stick his foot out when needed.

This could therefore lead to a fascinating battle down Ameobi’s side of the pitch.

Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City - Pre-Season Friendly Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Adam Le Fondre

Adam Le Fondre will be a familiar name to Reading fans, having scored 41 goals in 110 appearances between 2011 and 2014, before he was sold to Cardiff City amidst financial difficulties.

‘Alfie’ is still fondly remembered by Royals fans, with games against West Brom, Chelsea and Newcastle in the Premier League springing to mind as some of the most memorable games that Le Fondre played and scored in.

He’s also a particularly lethal striker - during the 2013/14 season, when Le Fondre was top scorer for a Reading side that finished seventh, he had the best conversion rate of 90 players who scored five or more goals in the Championship (28.3%).

The striker is expected to return to the Bolton side having been sidelined for the past two weeks with a calf injury. He may only have scored one goal in 13 appearances this season, but Le Fondre is the type of player who tends to be the fox in the box, looking to take any chances that might come his way.

Having scored 176 goals in 507 appearances, Le Fondre is a natural goal-scorer who will punish opposition defenders if given the time and space.