AS some Wanderers fans wrinkled their nose at the news that West Brom utility man Zac Ashworth was the club’s next signing, another young man discounted not so long ago became the third most expensive English goalkeeper in history.

While Ashworth might not yet be a household name in these parts, his departure did cause a stir down in the Midlands, which is never a bad sign. His loan at Burton Albion would seem to have been a successful one given the Brewer’s rapid rise up the table in the second half of last season, even if few Bolton fans will have seriously kept an eye on his progress.

Thankfully, the club can widen their focus. There is a team of analysts looking for players who they think fit the model Ian Evatt is trying to build, so when something unexpected happens – say, for instance George Johnston’s unfortunate injury in the first pre-season game – they are able to filter down the alternatives quite quickly.

Will Ashworth replicate the form his showed in the second half of last season? Well, hopefully. There are no guarantees, even with the biggest price tags. But in these days of instant reaction and polarised opinion, it was a little disappointing to see some of the reaction on social media when the announcement was made on Thursday evening.

If the 20-year-old can take anything positive from that, he might want to know that barely 18 months ago people were branding Evatt a crackpot for bringing in an untested teenage goalkeeper from a disappointing loan spell at Accrington Stanley.

James Harrington Trafford didn’t turn out too badly. A season and a half later he signed for Burnley in a £14million deal which could raise £5m higher if he helps the Clarets stay up and reaches his goal of being England’s number one.

It is a trust exercise, of course. There are folk wondering if January’s business will bear fruit – and rightfully so. Wanderers have reached the stage where they are investing hard money into every signing and every bit of business will be scrutinised by the people who pay their hard-earned.

Gone are the days where every season brings a fresh churn of players or a Supermarket Sweep dash on transfer deadline day. Deals are planned, and even if there is a bump in the road as proved the case with Keanu Baccus or Kane Wilson this summer, there is enough homework done in the background to prevent it becoming a complete disaster.

I can recall the days of Dougie Freedman and sitting in the Swedish sun expecting the arrival of Lukas Jutkiewicz, a striker around whom the Bolton boss was confident he could build his new-look team. The deal didn’t pan out – he went to Burnley, just like Traff, as it happened – but there was no hint of a Plan B, in fact poor Dougie never recovered from that particular fish that got away.

Business operates differently these days at Wanderers. Indeed, the erstwhile manager has moved into post at Crystal Palace that would have reduced the impact of ‘Juke’s U-Turn’ – as we termed it on the back page of The Bolton News.

Indeed, from the moment it was confirmed that Johnston would miss the entirety of the 2023/24 season there was a very swift shift in the recruitment drive.

Jack Iredale has returned this summer in good form, which is a massive plus and means he will most likely start as the left-sided centre-half when the real business kicks-off against Lincoln City in early August.

The Australian fully deserves his shot. There might have been some questions about his attacking contribution as a wing-back but left-sided centre-back is where – in this reporter’s eyes at least – he looks most comfortable.

Ashworth has played most of his football as a wing-back, which naturally poses the question on whether he challenges Randell Williams and Declan John for their place in the team.

Williams has certainly looked in good touch since he came back from the summer break but John’s attacking strengths also make him such a popular option, it is difficult to see him being cast aside completely, especially in a team that wants to play on the front foot so often.

Rather, Ashworth may well find himself drifting between positions, at least at first. He can play as a holding midfielder, and so it stands to reason he could fill the gap vacated by MJ Williams move to MK Dons.

Wanderers have seen something in the West Brom prospect that they feel fits into their own puzzle and like any other signing who walks through the door this summer, he can be judged in time. But not now.

There comes a tipping point in every player’s career where they can be described as a ‘good signing’ or something less positive, and for some that judgement comes sooner. Dion Charles, for example, looked worth the money Bolton paid for him within the first few months of his arrival, and likewise Aaron Morley. For others there is a settling period. Kyle Dempsey is an excellent case.

I wish Ashworth the best of luck and hope that in a year-and-a-half I’m writing another column chuckling at some of the tweets and messages I received on his arrival, just like Traff.