Calvin Ramsay was happy to become the latest young player to make the journey from Anfield to Wanderers as he aims to help the Whites’ promotion push, writes Pete Oliver.
Ramsay becomes the Whites’ third recent recruit from Liverpool after last season’s loan signings of Conor Bradley and Owen Beck.
Beck has subsequently enjoyed a successful stint at Dundee to earn a re-call by the Reds this month, while Bradley – Wanderers’ Player of the Season in 2022/23 – has forced his way into Jurgen Klopp’s starting line-up.
And after seeing the start of his own Liverpool career disrupted by injury after signing from Aberdeen in June, 2022, Ramsay is hoping a positive impact with Wanderers can get his own career back on an upward trajectory.
“It was a massive move from Aberdeen to Liverpool,” admitted the 20-year-old defender, who became the Dons’ most expensive player when he made the move south.
“It doesn't happen a lot, so it was crazy really at that time. To meet all the players and things like that I was a bit shell shocked almost. But you get used to it quickly and I got up to the tempo in training. I picked up a few injuries here and there but that happens in football and it's how you come back from it.
“I spoke to Conor and he said he loved it here, said it was a great club and all the lads were good. I got a bit of advice from him, although I didn't really need to speak to him to be fair because I saw how well he had done and he's playing at Liverpool now and probably going to be hard to get him out of the team the way he is going.”
Ramsay was one of the hottest young properties in British football when Liverpool recruited him from Pittodrie after 39 first-team appearances for the Dons.
He made a handful of first-team appearances for the Reds and a won a first full Scotland cap before being loaned to Preston North End at the start of the current campaign.
An early injury at Deepdale made that a bit of false start but after becoming the Whites’ second loan signing of the January transfer window, Ramsay is looking forward to the chance to play more games and help Wanderers keep aiming for the top.
“I’ve not a played a lot of games recently,” added Ramsay, who will be available for the final 19 games of Wanderers’ League One challenge and their on-going defence of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
“My last loan spell didn't really work out but to come to a club like Bolton, challenging to get promotion this year, is a great club for me to be at and continue my development. Hopefully I get as many games as I can and I'm just really looking forward to it. It's a great opportunity now to be here.
“Playing football is the main thing at any age, but especially when you're younger and you've picked up a few injuries or whatever. You just need to get back out on the pitch and working as hard as you can in training to get game time and hopefully here I can go and show that and prove to everyone what I can do and how good I can be.
“The first thing I did was look at the league table and I saw where we were and I thought it's a massive opportunity to get promoted. That's what everyone at the club wants and that's what I want as well, so I'm going to give my all for the club and see where it takes us.”
Watch Calvin's first interview on Wanderers TV HERE