DENNIS Politic has agreed to sign a loan deal with League Two Port Vale until the end of the season.

The academy graduate also had options in Scotland but has chosen Vale Park to link up once again with ex-Wanderers assistant boss David Flitcroft, who is currently the director of football at the Potteries club.

Politic missed the whole of last season after tearing his cruciate ligament in a pre-season friendly at Loughborough University and returned to the training ground in March.

He featured in first team pre-season outings against Barrow and Blackburn Rovers but Ian Evatt claims he has not yet reached the physical levels he needs to command a regular place in the team.

Speaking last week, the Wanderers boss said time away from the UniBol could benefit the 21-year-old, whose contract expires next summer.

“I think a loan would do him good,” he said. “Physically he is still not where I would like him to be so he needs time and minutes on the pitch.

“We have got a really competitive forward area at the moment and Dennis needs games to get himself to the fitness levels where he was prior to the injury.

“We think a lot of Dennis, he is a talented young man and I think he will be a big player for this club in the future but for now it is about aiding his development and getting him back up to speed.”

Evatt was also keen to find the right club for Politic to progress his game, adding: “We have got some options in Scotland, the SPL, and possibly around here as well so we want to aid players’ development and we will do the due diligence. This isn’t just about getting them out on loan to get them out of the way and play, it’s strategic.

“What team are they playing for, what way will they play, does it mirror what we do here, will it aid his development? It is all important.”

Politic broke into the Bolton team after spending several months on loan at Salford City in 2018/19, helping the club to promotion to the Football League.

He impressed then-manager Phil Parkinson during a difficult pre-season after relegation to League One, during which Wanderers were put into administration.

Politic then started his first Bolton game at Wycombe on the opening day of the 2018/19 campaign and went on to become a regular under Parkinson’s successor Keith Hill, assisted by Flitcroft.

He made 30 appearances and scored five goals, the first of which came against Rochdale in the EFL Trophy. His first league goal was scored in a 4-3 defeat to Burton Albion on January 1, 2020.

Wanderers should have the option to recall Politic in January, should they so wish, and Evatt is scheduled to give his thoughts on the loan at his press conference for the Lincoln City game this lunchtime.

Politic could be made available for Vale’s home game against Carlisle United on Tuesday night and joins ex-Wanderers striker Jamie Proctor in Darrel Clarke’s squad.