WANDERERS return to action after the international break this afternoon, and one former player is backing them to get the third run of games off to a good start – at his old club’s expense.

Alan Stubbs says his time at Bolton was one of the happiest of his career, and although he also has history with today’s hosts the defender-turned-manager is keen to see them beat the Millers.

And if they just create more chances in front of goal Stubbs feels decreased pressure on the front men could see them build on their solid start to the campaign.

“I think we can expect a close game, it’s a big game for both teams but hopefully in the last couple of weeks Bolton will have been able to work on a few things and get the win,” he told The Bolton News.

“I was at the Blackburn game and there wasn’t a lot in it, Bolton definitely deserved a draw – that would have been fair but when you get on these runs where you’re struggling to get wins these things tend not to go for you.

“I think Bolton just need to create more opportunities. When you’re free-scoring it takes the emphasis off having to take every chance when it comes along.

“I think Phil Parkinson is doing a great job, especially with the resources he’s working with, he’s had to keep pulling rabbits out of the hat.”

Stubbs, who has dipped his toe into media punditry before and after his latest managerial stint, at St Mirren, still has fond memories of his time at the club that gave him his grounding in the game and is eager to see them flourish once again.

After winning the Scottish Cup while managing Hibernian, he was in charge at Rotherham for a brief, ill-fated spell, and the 47-year-old admits he rarely keeps abreast of affairs at the New York Stadium, where they have kept their heads above water with 11 points from six games. It is a different story when they hit the road, with six straight losses from their away games.

“Rotherham have kept above the relegation zone on the basis of their home form,” he said. “Away from home they’ve been poor but that home form is a big factor for them and it’s keeping them out of trouble. So it will be tough for Bolton and I don’t think there’ll be a lot of goals, Bolton seem to be suited to 1-0 or 2-1 wins and obviously I’m hoping it’s a Bolton win and they get out of this little rut they’ve been in.

“I still keep an eye out for Bolton’s results, obviously I still want them to do well. I look out for Celtic and Everton as well, they’re the only three. Obviously I had spells elsewhere, like Rotherham and at Sunderland and Derby as a player but those are the only three, because I had far longer, and I started my career at Bolton, I like to see them do well.

“I had seven or eight years as a pro at Bolton, and we had some great times, we came from where we were, in League Two and got up through the divisions, it was a really prosperous time under Bruce [Rioch]. We had a good blend of up-and-coming talent and experienced players.

“We had some good cup runs and we established Bolton where everyone wanted us to be, I loved it there.”

As for his own future Stubbs, who was sacked by St Mirren after overseeing just four league games into his tenure, says football management may be a crazy world – unpredictable and most likely a health hazard – but he cannot wait to start his next chapter.

“I’ve just left St Mirren, which was crazy,” he added. “Football management is a madhouse and unfortunately it’s getting madder all the time. It’s not dented my enthusiasm though, I know I’ve got a lot to offer and I can do a good job. If you look at Hibs now, from where they were a few years ago, the difference is night and day.

“I’ve been doing a bit of TV work, watching a few games and my experiences in management so far haven’t made me scared to take on a new challenge.

“I don’t think people always realise what managers put themselves through from the point of view of their health. It’s very stressful and you have to have a certain type of mentality with the rigours and the demands of the job.

“But I want to get back into it, definitely.”