Dion Charles is aiming to make this weekend a right royal knees-up for Wanderers.

With a play-off place booked, Ian Evatt’s side head to Bristol Rovers knowing a point should be enough to guarantee fifth spot and a semi-final against Barnsley. Anything less and it will most likely be third-placed Sheffield Wednesday providing the opposition over two legs for a place at Wembley.

Although nothing major is riding on the outcome of Sunday lunchtime’s game, Charles has more reason than most to get something at the Memorial Stadium.

The striker is hoping to extend his record of 20 club goals this season and get himself in the scoring mood for the big challenges ahead.

“I want to go on, score more and get us promoted, hopefully,” he said. “As a striker I am never happy. I always want to strive and better myself and go one more.

“I need to set a target now where no-one is going to catch me for another 20 years.”

Charles became the first Bolton player since Michael Ricketts in 2001 to hit the magical 20 mark and while a Papa Johns Trophy final win and a top six finish already represents a fine return for Wanderers, he is happy to shoulder the scoring burden as the club enters an important fortnight.

“I love it,” he said. “That little bit of extra pressure.

“Sort of being the main man to try and fire us there is something I am proud of.

“To see where I have come from to potentially where I can be would make it a brilliant season; for everyone involved at the club, the fans, the board.

“Considering where the club was a few years ago, fighting for promotion to the Championship is good. It is the business end of the season and results matter more than performance now.”

Charles has hit 20 before as an Accrington player and after a season affected by contractual issues at the Wham Stadium, he got himself back on course with Bolton from January 2022 onwards.

Overall, his record for the Whites is 28 goals in 74 appearances – better than one in three – and he is confident that whatever division Bolton find themselves in next season, he can surpass his current total.

“I have said before that you have got to try and better yourself, season on season, so hopefully I can do that,” Charles told the club.

“I was brought here to score goals. The gaffer has shown massive faith in me, and I’d like to think I have repaid him.

“I could have done a bit better. I had a slow start early in the season and I think a few people doubted me but that spurred me on and gave me that fire in the belly to prove those people wrong.

“I’ve never doubted it. I’m very passionate and I do get a lot of chances, so I knew that I would always score goals here. No-one has scored that many goals for 22 years. It is a good achievement to get but me as a person, I am hungry for more.

“The way football has gone now, you are judged on your stats, so for me it is ‘how many goals have you scored?’ “But it is not just that. You need to perform well to help the team as well. Obviously, it is nice to score goals but what I bring to the team is important too.”