PHIL Parkinson has told Gary Madine straight: You won’t be an instant hero at Wanderers.

Pilloried by the fans during last season’s relegation, the former Sheffield Wednesday striker has been warned by his manager that changing hearts and minds at the Macron Stadium will not happen overnight.

Madine scored his first goal of the season in the 2-1 win at AFC Wimbledon at the weekend and has impressed Parkinson with his attitude over the summer.

After some high-profile bust-ups with former Wanderers manager Neil Lennon, added to even more public misdemeanours earlier in his career, Madine is now ready to start fulfilling his potential, says the Whites boss.

“This year, for Gaz, it’s to get his head down and let his football do the talking,” he told The Bolton News. “I’ve said that to him already.

“He’s had problems in the past but he’s maturing as a person and that’s important. He’s got to concentrate on gradually earning plaudits but that will come over a period of time. It’s not an instant scenario where it’s flicking a switch on and you’re flavour of the month.

“It’s not you’re not very popular and next minute you’re everyone’s favourite player.

“He’s got to gradually do what he’s been doing. He can score goals and he’s proven he can score in his career. We’ve got to make sure we keep getting the chances for him.”

Though Madine seemed to suffer a personality clash with his former boss Lennon, Parkinson says he has had no problems dealing with the 25-year-old since taking charge this summer.

“Gaz is fine,” he said. “He’s had a decent start, played very well against Sheffield United and got a goal the other day, he can’t do any more.

“Like us all, every single player, we’ve got to keep going, not get carried away with the two wins and be prepared to produce another performance.

“Supporters always think, ‘I wonder if the manager’s rollocked them – had a go at everybody,’ but then when they are in their work-place they like being spoken to respectfully. It’s about getting the best out of people.

“Gaz is a man, you can tell Gaz straight if something isn’t quite right but you speak to him the right way. I’ve got to work to get the best out of every single player and Gaz is no different to anyone else.”

Wanderers’ road to redemption continued with a first away win in 495 days at the Cherry Red Records Stadium but Parkinson admits the players still owe a debt to supporters after last season’s disappointments.

“Any team which gets relegated, the players are going to have some sort of criticism. That’s inevitable because we’ve been a club that haven’t won many games over the past 12 months.

“The players out there will ultimately take responsibility for that. There have been other factors along the way. All the lads can do is deal with what’s in front of them now and show that they are committed.”