Josh Vela is determined for Bolton Wanderers to finish the season strongly as the Whites look to clinch Sky Bet Championship survival.
Bolton travel to Barnsley this weekend knowing a victory would see them move five points clear of the bottom three.
Having come through the Trotters' academy, the midfielder shares a strong bond with the Wanderers faithful and has vowed to repay their support as the Whites look to secure the place in the second tier having previously been written off.
“I’ve always had a close relationship with the fans,” he told bwfc.co.uk. “They’ve always been good to me but that’s how it is when you come through at a club – it’s a brilliant feeling to have.
“We understand how important the club is to the supporters.
“Hopefully we can give them something to celebrate at the end of the season.”
Vela continued: “The gaffer has been brilliant ever since he arrived and I think the success we’ve had, winning promotion last season, says a lot about him.
“The first thing he said to us when he arrived was that everyone had a clean slate and an opportunity to restore their reputations after relegation to League One.
“The most important thing now is keeping this club in the Sky Bet Championship for next season.”
With four games of the season remaining, Vela is looking to finish the campaign strongly to ensure Wanderers are once again playing Sky Bet Championship football in 2018/19.
“On a personal level, I’d like to score a couple more goals,” he said.
“The main thing, though, is to help the team win our remaining games which will keep us up.
“If that happens, then we can be pleased with what we’ve managed to achieve despite the odds being stacked against us.
“People have doubted us, but at Bolton Wanderers we love nothing more than proving people wrong and we’re determined to do just that this season.”