GEORGE Thomason reckons Wanderers can thrive in League One next season with a few better pitches!

The young midfielder believes Ian Evatt’s possession-based footballing philosophy will suit a higher level, especially with improved playing surfaces at most opposition grounds.

This season, Bolton have had to battle in the mud at Mansfield, rugby-rutted turf at Newport and a swampy half-way line at Salford, to name but a few.

Thomason is already looking forward to seeing what the team can do at a higher level.

“The passing style that the manager has brought in isn’t just suited to League Two,” he told The Bolton News.

“It suits us to go to the next step, and even the step after that because we’re a progressive team.

“You saw throughout the season the way we can play football, especially on a good surface, and there will be more of those in League One.

“We are a good outfit and if we can even mix it out on pitches like Crawley’s I don’t think we’ve got any fears.”

Early bookmakers’ odds rate Wanderers at 14/1 to win the League One title next season, behind favourites Sheffield Wednesday (13/2), Charlton (9/1), Ipswich (10/1), Portsmouth (11/1) and Rotherham (12/1).

Thomason has no doubt that the Whites can use their promotion momentum and challenge at the top end of the division.

“There are big clubs up there but I believe this football club belongs in that bracket as well, it’s so big,” he said.

“I think we’ll take it all in our stride to be honest. We’re constantly improving as a team, we’re buying into what the manager wants, we know everyone’s strengths and weaknesses and we’re just trying to play to that.

“As we grow as a group, we’ll grow as a better footballing team so we have no fears.”