NEW boss Dougie Freedman wants to build his Wanderers team around former Manchester United man Chris Eagles.
Freedman had his first day in the hot-seat yesterday and took training for the first time.
And after studying the players from distance recently in preparation for his Crystal Palace side’s 1-0 win at the Reebok Stadium, he believes he has a gem in the shape of the 26-year-old forward.
The Scot said: “I think Chris Eagles is very crucial to this club.
“He is still young enough and I saw him in training and he has a spark in his eye that he wants to do well.
“I mention him because I believe if I can get him firing in the right way, he will be key to our success.
“He is one of many I look forward to working with.
“When you are in my business, you know how many hours sleep someone like Chris Eagles gets every night.
“When I study teams, I want to know exactly who they are, and we played Bolton a few weeks ago.
“I know the strengths and weaknesses and where I can improve them.
“I know the players quite well but don’t yet know their characters individually and that is going to take a few weeks.”
Freedman is relishing working with a squad he believes is brimming with talent aside from Eagles.
And he has spoken with his predecessor Owen Coyle about the group he is inheriting – a call he regularly makes to his fellow countryman.
But he hopes he can get more out of the squad.
He added: “It is a squad that are underperforming; I spoke to Owen Coyle about it last week.
“He told me it was a great group that probably needs a different voice.
“I speak to him every week as a general catch-up and I did speak to him before I took the job.
“He’s a good man but he has different ideas as a manager to me and hopefully the way I work will have a different effect.”
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