SUCH is the strength of the Northern Irish contingent at Wanderers, that even Ian Evatt has taken to wearing international kit to training in order to blend in!

Eoin Toal’s first call up yesterday made it a hat-trick of Bolton players in the squad to face San Marino and Finland later this month, as qualification for the 2024 Euros gets underway.

Charles boasts 13 caps for his country, with Liverpool loanee Bradley not far behind on 10, but this will be a new experience for defender, Toal, whose rapid progress since signing from Derry City at the end of last year had caught the eye of Michael O’Neill as he prepared to return for his second spell in charge.

Evatt had been pressing for the 24-year-old to get a call-up after he impressively claimed a regular starting place in his back three just before Christmas.

“I think he deserves it to be honest,” said the Bolton boss. “I know some of Northern Ireland’s senior defenders, they are very good players. But I think Eoin Toal could be the future, really.

“To start to blood him and develop him, it is probably the right thing to do.

“I know Michael has been to watch the three of them a few times now and had conversations with them all individually. He is happy with them, so we will see what happens in the next couple of qualifiers.”

Toal had spent seven years at Derry, making his debut at the age of 16, and first popped up on O’Neill’s radar when he was playing for the Northern Ireland Under-19s, graduating to the Under-21s in 2019 and earning 13 caps.

As such, his progression to the senior squad should come as no surprise, especially with Leicester City’s Jonny Evans named in the squad but currently out injured, and other mainstays of the squad such as Stuart Dallas of Leeds United and Steven Davis of Rangers being unavailable.

Toal’s progression at Bolton has been swift, however, especially as it took him a few months after arriving at the club to get anywhere near a regular start.

Part of that was an ankle injury he had picked up in his final months with Derry, which remained an issue even as he played in Europe for the club.

“Since then he has taken off really, his improvement is crazy,” Evatt eulogised. “I have been so impressed with him - the way he initially came in, had to be patient because he had one or two niggles and his body was adjusting to the intensity that we play and train at. But he was always listening. He was like a sponge, taking on information.

“And the way he plays that role, he is really intelligent. He understands when to go inside and pick up spaces and pockets, and also when to underlap, overlap and join in. His defensive stuff is great - he is 6ft 4in and he can run like the wind. He is wiry and he probably needs to develop physically a little bit better. But he has really got a high ceiling. Providing he keeps working hard at his game and commits to it, he is going to be a really good player.”

Evatt has been only too happy to embrace his Northern Ireland connections – and may be calling upon them again in the future as he looks to find more unpolished gems.

“I don’t think it’s a secret that I went out there to do my coaching badges. I developed some good relationships and connections,” he said.

“They were very good to me and obviously they tipped me off about one or two players, which helps as well. I am happy to develop them.

“I went to the gym today in Northern Ireland gear and Conor was very proud to see me in the kit! As part of the coaching badges they give you kit and stuff like that. I just thought I would put it on and give the lads a bit of a smile on their faces. We were singing Green and White army, me and Conor. They are three very good players and hopefully they can go and perform for their country.”