DORIAN Dervite is reaping reward for staying and fighting for his place at Wanderers, according to Phil Parkinson.

The French defender returned to the side for the first time in over a year in the recent 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon, and produced another solid display at Fleetwood on Saturday.

Written off by many at the Macron and linked with a string of continental clubs in the previous transfer window, the former Charlton Athletic star did not appear to have a future at the club just a few months ago.

But Parkinson praise the player’s attitude after a January heart-to-heart resulted in him deciding to stick around at Bolton.

“A little while back there was a bit of change with Dorian,” the manager said. “He’d recovered from his knee, had worked very, very hard and lost about four kilos in weight – not that he was overweight – but he really had the bit between his teeth in training.

“We knew around deadline day that a few clubs were talking about taking him but were only going to pay a percentage of his wages.

“I said to him ‘maybe it’s worth waiting here, being patient, and your chance might come.’

“He’s done that and so far he’s taken his opportunity well. Hopefully he keeps going.”

Prior to the Wimbledon game, Dervite’s last start had been for Neil Lennon at Birmingham in February, 2016. But like others involved in the Championship relegation, Parkinson feels Dervite can redeem himself by getting involved in a promotion push.

“He has that chance,” he said. “Dorian could have gone abroad but decided he wanted to stay and fight.

“He had that injury earlier in the season, which set him back, and then when we played the four at the back Beevers and Wheater had done so well I couldn’t change it.

“It was important he got back-to-back games in the Under-23s because he really did need that. A couple of good performances there prepared him to play as well as he has done.”