WANDERERS are getting better all the time, according to the man who has overseen their pleasantly-surprising start to the season.

Phil Parkinson was conscious of the need to raise the creativity levels in his team in the off-season, and the manager is confident there are still improvements to come as his squad gels further.

Wanderers welcome Blackburn Rovers to the University of Bolton Stadium for today’s tea-time kick off and Parky is in no doubt they are yet to realise their potential as a unit.

“We’re improving as a team, we’re evolving as a side in terms of our ability to pass the ball better and we’ve got more creativity in the team,” he told The Bolton News.

“I think the supporters are starting see a change in dynamics in the team, in terms of quality levels of our football.

“We were aware in the summer we needed to get better technical ability in the side. We’re trying to implement that without losing our work ethic as well, that’s really important because you don’t want to become better at the football side of it but lose that intensity in your play. I think we struck that balance against Derby, we’ve got to continue to do that.”

However, Parkinson is expecting the outcome of today’s Lancashire derby to rest on the physical battle ­– at least in the opening stages, – and says the Whites must first win the power struggle in order to show their skills.

Both teams come into the match on the back of midweek defeats, and Parkinson is determined it is the Bolton contingent who will go into the international break on a high note.

“If we can back up the home game against Derby last time out it will give us a great chance of achieving something against Blackburn,” he said. “They are a very good side but it’s a game that will be keenly contested, a Lancashire derby, and we can’t wait for it. It will 100 miles per hour, I’m sure, and we’ve got to be prepared to run those hard yards first and foremost and as the game opens up hopefully we can start to show our quality.”

Parkinson revealed Ben Alnwick and Sammy Ameobi remain sidelined through injury, but Andy Taylor should be available again once Bolton resume Championship action at Rotherham United.

n Under-23s’ start Stephen Duke-McKenna has been called up the Guyana national team for their forthcoming international fixture.

The ex-Everton attacker will join up with the squad to face the Turks and Caicos Islands on October 13.