PHIL Parkinson’s faith in Adam Armstrong was rewarded with a stunner against Norwich - but the Wanderers boss insists his young striker still has more in the locker.

The Newcastle United loanee ended a 14-game wait for his first league goal at Bolton, answering critics who had been calling for him to be dropped from the team.

Parkinson stood by the 20-year-old and named an unchanged line-up for the third successive match, reaping the rewards with a result which leaves the Championship table looking much rosier over the international break.

“I could feel the rumblings – why are we still picking Armstrong? But I think he’s put in some terrific performances,” said Parkinson after the game.

“He has been desperate for that goal and you could see he was getting a little bit flat but he deserved things to change because of all the hard work he has put in on the pitch and in training.

“We are on to him all the time about areas of his game he can improve but he has got quality, and he can and will get better.

“He has had a spell like Gary Madine where things were not going for him, being cleared off the line, hitting the post but we stuck with Gaz and we’ve stuck with Adam.

Gary Madine also got on the scoresheet for the second game running as Wanderers registered their first over the Canaries in 12 years.

Armstrong grabbed a goal a few moments after missing a close-range header, and Parkinson praised the youngster for handling the pressure.

“He has got courage,” he said. “He doesn’t go under when he misses a chance, I can absolutely assure you of that. He’s a confident lad.

“All the supporters who have seen games home and away will know he’s threatened to produce that moment. He has done it against Norwich and he needed to.

“He knows there is competition for his place with Craig Noone and Will Buckley but he’s coping with it.”

Parkinson also gave due praise to keeper Ben Alnwick, who was denied a clean sheet by Josh Murphy’s injury-time consolation.

“Ben has been excellent since he got in the team,” he said. “I’m really pleased with his performance. He deserved that clean sheet.”