DAVID Wheater has targeted a swift return to Bolton Wanderers' first team after making his comeback from injury.

The defender played 90 minutes for the development squad on Monday, against Derby County, in front of the watching Neil Lennon.

Wheater has missed the last 10 games in league and cup since damaging his back in the warm-up of a match at Leeds United in late August.

Now the 27-year-old centre-back has his sights fixed on becoming a regular under the new manager.

Wheater said: “It has been quite hard being out.

"With it being my back I could not do any anything on a bike or any running or swimming so it has been hard to get any fitness. But I have had two good training sessions and now 90 minutes for the under-21s.

“The new gaffer has been tremendous. He has really lifted the place and everyone is going around with a smile on their face.

“It was nice to get 90 minutes in front of him and I hope I impressed. I hope it will not be too long before I am in the first-team squad again.”

Wheater has tipped some of the younger members of the squad to get more first-team exposure under Lennon.

He said: “They need to be given a chance in the first team to prove themselves — and I think that is exactly what they are going to get.”