MAX Clayton has finally found a reason to smile in pre-season.

For the last two summers Wanderers’ highly rated striker has cut a frustrated figure at this time of year.

Whether toiling in the gym to recover from injury or swamped by contractual problems which preceded his arrival at the Macron Stadium from Crewe, the 21-year-old feels he has yet to start a season in a Bolton shirt feeling his best.

Until now.

Clayton has patiently bided his time while recovering from a freak hamstring injury sustained last November to time his comeback for this very moment.

Back in the side for the first time in eight months during the 2-1 win over Helsingor on Saturday, the youngster is now determined to make up for lost time.

“It has honestly been so frustrating,” he told The Bolton News. “From signing for such a big club and being so excited to come here, I’ve had two injury-plagued seasons and I feel like I owe it to the fans to give something back.

“They have backed me all the way through it, been behind me and made me feel very special.

“Hopefully this season I can play my part in making team successful and feel like we are repaying them.”

Clayton came to Bolton as Dougie Freedman’s final signing in 2014, having spent weeks in the middle of a contract wrangle with his former club Crewe.

Some of that time was spent training with Danish side FC Midtjylland but the majority was a solo effort, which left his fitness behind that of his team-mates when he finally became a Bolton player.

A serious knee injury in his first Christmas with Wanderers was a massive blow and ensured the following summer was also spent catching up.

“Last pre-season I was with Mark Leather every day doing work on my knee,” Clayton explained. “This is the first one I really managed in two or three years. It was always the aim to start this one, not to push it for the end of last year.

“Honestly, it’s an incredible feeling to be back and I said to the lads that having that six weeks of pre-season is going to be brilliant for me. It means I’m not behind and I can really push this injury through.

“I need games to break down the last bit of scar tissue that’s in there and then by the end of it I should be absolutely fine. Fingers crossed then, no injuries.”

Clayton’s time in a Wanderers shirt has been so frustratingly fleeting it is hard to ascertain exactly what his best position may be.

Phil Parkinson played him initially on the left side of midfield on Saturday at Helsingor but moved him to a number 10 role later in the second half to great effect.

Clayton feels confident he can play a part for the new manager, no matter where he is selected.

“I think it depends on who you are playing with – for example I played up front with (Jamie) Proctor and, for me, he’s ideal. I can go behind, come short, because he’s more of a number nine,” he said.

“But if I played alongside Zach (Clough), for example, he is more likely to come short to get the ball.

“Under Neil Lennon I basically played either side and cut in, and I’m comfortable doing that.

“At Crewe I was number nine. I feel I can do more damage playing centrally but, believe me, after what I’ve been through I don’t care what position I’m in, I just want to be out on the pitch.”