IF Owen Coyle manages to get Jack Wilshere back at the Reebok on loan next season it will be a hell of a coup for Bolton Wanderers.

Anyone who has seen the kid play since he joined the club from Arsenal in January couldn’t fail to have been impressed, and we saw again on Saturday that he has a big future in the game.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t influence the game enough to prevent Aston Villa taking the points, but I reckon we could have played all day and not scored. It was just one of those games, but the manager was dead right when he singled out young Wilshere for special praise.

He’s only 18 but what a player, a shining example to any youngster who wants to be a footballer. He is confident on the ball, passes well and, although he isn’t the biggest, he likes a tackle. He’s got a lot of spirit too, which tells me he’s a winner.

Nothing’s cut and dried yet – not least whether we’ll still be in the Premier League next season – but I’m optimistic that Owen will be able to persuade Arsenal to play ball on another loan deal. The team’s playing good football and Arsene Wenger will like that. And, with so many top quality players in front of Wilshere at the Emirates, Bolton can continue to play a big part in developing a player who I’m sure will be a big star in the years to come.

I’m still pretty confident that we’ve got enough in the bank to stay clear of the relegation zone. We can’t continue relying on the teams below us losing, but one more win will make all the difference, and the sooner we get it the better.

I’m not sure the result at Chelsea next Tuesday will be a forgone conclusion. Okay, they are top of the table and on a brilliant winning run, but they’ve got a lot of distractions at the moment and the pressure is going to get to them sooner or later and they’ll have a bad game.

If we sit back and let them dictate, they’ll play us off the park but I believe we have a chance if we go down there and get at them.

Like everyone else in football – and particularly up here in Bolton – I’m delighted Mark Halsey is back in action after his cancer problems.

He’s been training at Euxton getting fit and I’ve had a few chats with him. I know he appreciates all the good wishes he’s received from everybody and I bet it was an emotional day for him on Saturday, but he’s back in the swing now and, knowing him, he’ll just want to get back to normal as quickly as possible.

It was sad to see my mate Jamie Moore lose his comeback fight on Saturday night. He’s not a champion any more but he’ll always be a champion in my eyes because of all the work he’s done for charity.

I know he’s taking a bit of time out before deciding what to do next, but I’m sure whatever decision he makes will be the right one.