JOSH Vela looks set to end his Wanderers exile against Leeds United this afternoon.

The home-grown midfielder, who has not featured since September 12, is being strongly considered for a first-team return at the Macron Stadium.

Neil Lennon is looking for some inspiration after a run of three straight defeats sent his side to the foot of the Championship.

And he is ready to turn to 21-year-old Vela, one of last season’s breakout stars, but a player who has struggled to make an impact in the last few months.

“He has got very good chance of starting,” Lennon told The Bolton News. “People have to remember this time last year Josh hadn't played a game.

“He has already been around the squad. He played 32 games last year and there is no reason why he can't do that again."

Lennon has squashed speculation that a clause in Vela’s contract has been the reason behind the youngster’s absence in his first team. It had been heavily speculated that Vela may qualify for a boost in his wages after playing a certain number of games – but the manager rejected that theory in no uncertain terms this week.

“I know there is talk of contracts,” he said “I am not going to go into that but that's not the reason, far from it. There is a lot of competition.

“Darren Pratley and Jay Spearing have come back in but the truth is that he has never been far away.”

Lennon remains convinced he can turn around the club’s form, just as he did a year ago when he came into the job with the club bottom of the league.

The Northern Irishman admits it has been tough to cope with losing key first teamers such as Chung-Yong Lee and Tim Ream during 2015, and said earlier this week that his side lack quality in the final third after drawing a blank against Birmingham City.

The chase for attacking reinforcements continues but Lennon is nevertheless confident that the majority of his squad is good enough to climb away from danger.

“We turned it around and we can turn it around again because I believe in the squad of players we have,” he said. “I think they are better than what the league position and the performances have shown. It may be our time to put a run together."