GEORGE Taft left Bolton Wanderers for Scunthorpe United yesterday insisting he had not yet had chance to show what he is made of this season.

The former Cambridge United defender has started just one league game for the Whites since signing on a free transfer in the summer.

Despite starting in Ian Evatt's first line-up against Bradford City in the Carabao Cup, the 27-year-old's experience in the North West has been a miserable one - leaving him with little choice but to seek first team football elsewhere in the January window.

Taft was one of 20 new signings in the summer but found himself overtaken by Ryan Delaney and Reiss Greenidge over the last few months, playing his last game against Newcastle United's Under-23s in the Papa John's Trophy.

Speaking to Scunthorpe's official website, Taft said he was looking to get straight into Neil Cox's starting line-up to face Bradford City this weekend after what has been a difficult campaign to date.

“It’s been a frustrating (season so far),” he said. “I haven’t had the game time that I would have liked and obviously Covid-19 has taken it’s toll on everyone. I just want to hit the ground running. I had a really good season last season and played some of my best football. I haven’t really had the game time this year to replicate that, so I’m hoping that I can get games here and show people what I can do.

“I didn’t need much time to think about it. It came about a couple of days ago. Scunthorpe is a great club, so we got it done quick."

Taft is also confident he can hit the ground running at Scunthorpe in League Two and that his lack of game time at Wanderers should not be too costly.

“My training regime has been normal, so I’ve kept my fitness up," he said. "It’s just the game time that gives you that little top up and that extra boost. Getting that should come quick.”

Cox, a former Bolton defender, has been looking to boost his defensive ranks and saw enough of him at Cambridge United last season to make an educated decision on bringing him to Glanford Park.

"I think it's an excellent signing and just what we were looking for.," he said. "He has a lot of experience in this league and is a leader.

"He wanted to come and play for this football club. I've seen him many times when he played for Cambridge. He wants to win the ball and can play, and he can head it in both boxes. League Two football is about what happens in both boxes.

"He's an organiser, and is ready for a battle and that's what I wanted to hear. He's a character, who wants to win on the training pitch as well as in the matches.

"We thank Bolton for their help and we'll get him ready for the Bradford game.

"He's come to play and we'll look at him in training on Friday and see where we go from there."