WITH just 10 games to go before they ride off into the sunset – time is running out for Wanderers’ loan rangers to earn a permanent move to the Reebok.

Ebi Smolarek, Sebastien Puygrenier and Ariza Makukula have all arrived from foreign shores over the last six months to boost Gary Megson’s paper-thin squad, with the ultimate aim of earning a contract in the Premier League.

And with little more than a quarter of the season to go, each player has plenty of work left to do if he is to convince the Whites boss to splash his cash in the summer.

Megson has given little indication as to whether the trio of loanees have a future at Bolton, although in the case of Smolarek and Makukula, their recent lack of first team opportunities suggests their task is tougher than that of the more regular starter, Puygrenier.

The manager remains non-committal – insisting that every player has a role to play in the final stretch and that any decisions will be left until the next transfer window opens on July 1. “It’s not a case of them changing my mind now,” he explained. “I want to pick the strongest team, and if they push themselves forward and make themselves part of that team, then fine by me.

“I don’t care if they are on loan or have a 10-year contract. What they have to do is perform well and, most importantly, when they play – make sure the team wins.

“You bring them in to make the squad a little bit stronger and if they are doing well then we would try and sign them permanently.

“But there has been nothing set in stone that if they play a certain number of games that we would have to go down that route. We’ll wait and see.”

Smolarek has made only one start since moving from Racing Santander in September and yet his contribution has arguably been the most telling of the trio. The sleek Poland international was thrust into action against Arsenal soon after arriving at the club but his 11 other appearances to date have come from the bench.

Some consider the 28-year-old striker unlucky to have been used so sparingly. His only goal came in the FA Cup defeat against Sunderland where, despite a bright cameo, a run in the first team never materialised.

Smolarek’s quirky character has made him popular among teammates and if he does not earn a move to the Reebok, it is unlikely he will continue his career in Spain, where he endured a miserable spell which prompted his spell with the Whites in the first place.

Although Puygrenier has struggled for sharpness since his January arrival from Russian club Zenit St Petersburg, he perhaps has the best chance of the three loanees to earn a permanent contract.

Wanderers have pre-agreed a fee, believed to be around £6million, but look unlikely to pay such a hefty sum unless the Frenchman adapts a little quicker to life in the Premier League.

Puygrenier’s composure and quality on the ball in his five starts so far for the club has impressed but he has equally been found wanting on a couple of occasions, not least the 3-0 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park.

To persuade Megson to begin negotiations with Zenit in a few months time, he may well need to find some steel to add to his undoubted technical ability.

Finally, Portugal international Makukula has looked slightly off the pace since being thrown into the first team equation just hours after arriving in England.

The big target man made an awkward debut against Manchester United at the Reebok and has failed to find the net in any of his four starts since moving from Benfica.

His size and power should be a threat to any side – but big question marks still hang over the 29-year-old at this late stage of the season.