MARLON Fossey’s short-term aim at Bolton Wanderers is to show he can handle the rigours of League One football.

The flying full-back wants to make an impression at the UniBol after more than a decade in Fulham’s youth system.

Ian Evatt revealed a deal could be done for the American in the summer if he shows enough between now and the end of the season.

Fossey wants to make the most of the next four months in what could be a win-win situation for the 23-year-old and his new club.

“I have been at Fulham half my life, so I am grateful for the player they made me,” he told The Bolton News.

“It’s a great club and I am a better person and player for having played there. I have met a lot of great staff and a lot of great players through the years so I am grateful for everything.

“But, ultimately, I want to be playing first team football on a regular basis and at this moment in time Bolton are offering and providing me that. We will see what happens.

“I will try and keep my focus on the short term, and I am all focussed on Bolton at the moment, so that’s where I stand.”

Fossey could make his home debut for the club against Wycombe on Tuesday having impressed against Hartlepool in the Papa John’s Trophy.

The defender has sampled League One football before in the colours of Shrewsbury Town, playing under ex-Bolton full-back Sam Ricketts at the start of last season.

Injury cut short his time with the Shrews and he believes he is now ready to graduate from the Fulham academy and move on with his career.

“Youth team is good up to a certain age but definitely not my age,” he said. “I probably wouldn’t say I’m a ‘young’ young player now, I’m starting to get into that middle rift, so I need to be starting to establish myself in the men’s football arena and hopefully this is the first steps to that.

“The quicker tempo was definitely something that I had to get used to after playing youth football for many years. It is a lot less intense because you don’t have players competing and vying from paycheck to paycheck to make sure their bills are paid.

“You are playing with kids that are sort of guaranteed to stay in their position for years to come, so the tempo, the intensity, the physicality was all a reality check that I think I did get used to it.

"I had started playing on my feet towards by the middle of my time at Shrewsbury but unfortunately I had an injury that stopped me from progressing with them, but I learned a lot, for sure.

“Now I’m hungry to take this opportunity and I’ll do all I can on the training field and even off the field to show this team what I’m about and hopefully help this team and we’ll see how it goes. I’m looking forward to it.”