PHIL Parkinson insists he will find the right formula at Wanderers to get their season back on track.

A shift in formation and seven changes in personnel failed to bring about an upturn in form against Hull City on Saturday. But the Bolton boss drew some encouragement from the performance, if not the result.

Wanderers visit Aston Villa on Friday night with Jason Lowe back in the squad after suspension. Sammy Ameobi has made progress on the training ground but will not be fit enough to feature in the game, televised on Sky Sports.

Parkinson has not ruled out making more changes for the trip to the Midlands but accepts searching for a settled, in-form line-up does have its downsides.

“We’re looking to make ourselves more potent in front of goal, get us creating things,” he said. “And to be honest, we’ve probably created more against Hull City than we had in the last few games.

“Do we want a settled team? It’s a fair question, it does take time to find – but I think the lads have adapted well, they have done everything we’ve asked of them.

“I think we have to have belief in the shape we are playing and there were some signs that we’re starting to get that. It will come, I’m sure of it. There are more goals in this group of players and we will find them.”

Parkinson also underlined that the change to a back three against Hull had been pre-planned and not a reaction to the Forest defeat a few days earlier.

Wanderers have used the last two international breaks to work on alternative formations to the 4-2-3-1 which has primarily been used in the Championship.

“It’s a shape we worked on previously in the international break, so Friday’s training session was about reminding everyone of their roles in that shape,” he said.

“All the things we worked on, worked well. I think the shape was pretty good.

“We got into the positions but that finish, or someone producing a moment of quality to win a game of football was lacking. But it will come.”