LLOYD Isgrove is showing he has more than one string to his bow since returning to the Wanderers first team.

The winger, who arrived at Bolton earlier this season in the hope he could rekindle his promotion-winning partnership with ex-Swindon team-mate Eoin Doyle, has impressed Ian Evatt just as much with his defensive work in recent weeks.

Isgrove scored the winner at Salford City on Tuesday night but earned widespread recognition for his work-rate in midfield to protect the lead.

“He has now added a couple of goals to his name, even though I believe Kieran Lee has tried to steal the one from Saturday,” explained the Wanderers boss. “But that performance is exactly why away from home we play Lloyd Isgrove.

“We now do at home as well, because he offers so much with and without the ball and he plays a key role to the team.

“That is what is expected of our wide players. You are not just here to create and attack, you have a responsibility to defend from the front as well and it is the same for every player. Lloyd is a shining example of that.”

Evatt is backing Eoin Doyle to shake off the disappointment of a difficult night at Salford to quickly get among the goals again.

The club’s 17-goal top scorer missed a few big chances at the Peninsula Stadium but won’t dwell on them as he looks to edge towards the magical 20-mark at Grimsby this weekend.

“If he gets the same chances on Saturday he’ll score,” Evatt said. “It was just one of those nights.

“It happens to good players. Sometimes you don’t score but it is everything else he gives to the team, does Eoin - his leadership, his work ethic in both boxes.

“He is a pleasure to work with and the lads think the world of Eoin, and rightly so.”