Former Northern Ireland midfielder Chris Brunt has heaped praise on Conor Bradley following a successful loan spell at Wanderers.

Bradley was a key figure for the Whites last season as Ian Evatt’s men finished fifth in League One before coming up just short against Barnsley in the play-offs.

The youngster has already become a regular on the international stage and is currently preparing for the European Championship qualifiers against Denmark and Kazakhstan.

Brunt was impressed by what he saw from the wing-back over the past season and described him as “fearless”.

"Conor has backed it up this season by going out on loan,” he told BBC Sport. “Fair play to him, he has put himself out there, had a good spell at Bolton, been looked after well and played in a good team that has been successful.

"He is fearless, he is a hundred miles an hour and never stops running. He is like a breath of fresh air, really.

“For such a young lad to go onto an international stage the way he has, without any fear or reservations, has been really good.”

Bradley was used as a wing-back during his time at Wanderers, which gave him the freedom to join the attack.

The 19-year-old scored seven goals in all competitions for the Whites – a total only Dion Charles and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson could better.

And Brunt believes he has the attributes to play consistently in a more advanced role for the national team.

He added: "If Michael (O’Neill) plays a back five or a back three, and it means slotting Trai (Hume) in as a third centre-half and Conor playing wing-back, I am sure that is an option.

"However, watching Conor play for Bolton and the goals he scores, I don't think it would be out of the question to push him a bit higher up the pitch as a wide right and play Trai at right-back.

“Conor has got all the attributes to play as a more attacking player.”