Transfer news: Bolton boss Dougie Freedman hoping for fan support in player search

Dougie Freedman has conceded that Bolton Wanderers are unlikely to land a 'big name' but hopes supporters trust his judgement.

A new striker remains a top priority for those charged with the task of bringing fresh faces into the Reebok Stadium.

Former loan star Lukas Jutkiewicz figured prominently on their wish list, but he has left Middlesbrough to step up into the Premier League with Burnley.

Freedman has been forced back to the drawing board as a result, but believes his track record when it comes to recruitment suggests he is capable of unearthing another hidden gem.

He told the Bolton News: “I’ll say right now that we’re probably not going to get a big name through the door who’s done everything.

It can take time to find the right one because I’m not going to just sign someone for the sake it, that spells panic in my book.

“But then I’d remind a few people that when Lukas Jutkiewicz came in, people were asking ‘who’s this guy?’

“I’d like to think that fans understand how I work, how I bring players in and try to make them better.

“It can take time to find the right one because I’m not going to just sign someone for the sake it, that spells panic in my book.

“It might not be the big player that everyone wants but I believe it can be a player who everyone can again take to their hearts like a Jutkiewicz, a Craig Dawson, a Joe Mason, a Liam Feeney or a Kevin McNaughton.”

While Freedman will have the final say on who is drafted in this summer, he is looking for his scouting department to offer valuable support in the pursuit of the right additions.

He added: “Putting all that in place was one of the first major things I did here behind the scenes.

“Listen, I know that results in the first six months of last season did not reflect the hard work that has gone in there, but I firmly believe in time they will.

“We’ve really ripped apart the scouting structure at the club. We are using younger guys, dynamic guys, using state of the art technology to find players who will play in a certain way.”