Nottingham Forest loanee Liam Bridcutt risks injury to play for Bolton

Scans revealed last month that the on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder had fractured his collarbone in a training ground collision – the second such injury he has suffered this season.

Some even speculated that his previous appearance in the 7-1 defeat at Accrington could have been his last in Bolton colours, with his current stay due to expire in early January.

Assistant boss Flitcroft has revealed Bridcutt put himself up for selection early last week, with a decision taken on Friday to play him from the start as an auxiliary defender at Peterborough.

“It has been a fight for Liam to play, we had to really manage his workload and it was touch and go,” he told The Bolton News. “He probably needed another week and we can’t forget that he isn’t a permanent Bolton Wanderers player.

“But from Tuesday he put himself in front of us and said he was prepared to do the work. He said he’d do anything he needed to do to make the game.

“He is a loan signing but he wants to commit to the cause and that tells you everything about his mentality and what this means to him.

“The club has made a very positive impression on him. He is trying to give us everything he has got – all the players are, in fact.”

Bridcutt wore the captain’s armband in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at the Weston Homes Stadium and has thus far made nine appearances for the club in what has been an injury-plagued start.

Flitcroft believes his return to contention, however, will be good news as Wanderers seek some consistency going into 2020.

“Liam adds know-how, he’s calm, brave, and he makes good footballing decisions. He knows the game,” he said.

“I have found him probably one of the best professionals I have worked with in 12 years of coaching and management.

“We made demands of Liam and he answered them, now we have to be just as demanding of all the players. We will support them and get that away form right to establish the solid base we need.”