Sam Ricketts backs Adam Armstrong to shine

Former Wanderers defender Sam Ricketts has backed Adam Armstrong to impress at Macron Stadium.

The former Wales international played alongside Armstrong at Coventry City during the 2015/16 season - a campaign which saw the Newcastle United loanee net 20 goals for the Sky Blues.

After gaining Sky Bet Championship experience on loan at Barnsley last season, the young striker helped England win the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in South Korea earlier this summer prior to his temporary move to Macron Stadium.

Armstrong is in line to make his first start for the Whites away at Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, having come on as a substitute in Bolton's season opener against Leeds United.

And having been impressed by what he saw from the striker during his stint at the Ricoh Arena, Ricketts has backed Armstrong to catch the eye for his former club.

"Adam is very tough to deal with as a defender," Ricketts told the Bolton News. "He's quick, powerful and he’s willing to take players on and commit them.

"I don’t think he’ll win you too many headers. He certainly isn’t that type of player.

"He isn’t one of those who will dribble past people with step-overs and skills but he can move the ball so quickly and get a shot off with either foot.

He continued: "He is definitely capable of scoring plenty of goals in that division if he can get a run of games and get that confidence going.

"He played at Barnsley last season and seemed to do okay. I don’t think he really got the chances to show what he can do, or a run in the team in a position he was comfortable in.

“I think another year older and wiser he could be a great coup for Bolton."

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