JASON Lowe is looking forward to seeing what Stephen Ireland has to offer Wanderers.

First impressions have been good as the former Republic of Ireland international settles into life at Lostock, feeling his way back to full fitness.

Lowe counts himself among those impressed – and though it may be a few weeks before Ireland is put forward for a Bolton debut, his attitude on the training ground is already turning heads.

“He is a top guy and willing to do the work,” Lowe told The Bolton News. “He has mingled in and is willing to graft straight away.

“He hasn’t shirked a single thing.

“Everyone knows the career he has had so far at the top level, he has been an excellent player and I am sure he still can be.

“I am sure he’ll have a lot for us when he is fit and firing.”

Former Stoke star Ireland is looking to kickstart a career which has been spent entirely in the Premier League to this point.

A broken leg sustained on the training ground in May 2016 left him sidelined for more than a year and complications in his recovery meant extra time off with muscular problems, and a departure from the Bet365 Stadium in the summer.

Phil Parkinson is confident, however, his medical team can guide Ireland back to full fitness and to the point he can have a positive impact on Wanderers’ season.

The 32-year-old has a short-term contract until January and Lowe feels his new team-mate is on track to make a difference to the team.

“He’s looking good,” he said. “He’s dived straight in there and every day he’s looking a bit fitter, a bit sharper.

“He has been out a while where he hasn’t been with the team and had bodies around him but that will all come back very quickly in the next few weeks.

“Day by day he’ll get himself back to the stage where he’s pushing for a place in the team.

“A guy like Steve has clearly got a great footballing brain, which is there for all to see, and the team is looking forward to seeing what he can offer us.”