Dougie Freedman would love to welcome Craig Dawson back into the Bolton Wanderers fold, but accepts he has little chance of doing so.
The Trotters signed the 23-year-old on loan from West Bromwich Albion last January, and he went on to impress whilst making 16 appearances in the Championship. Freedman was keen to take him again for the duration of the current campaign, but was told by the Baggies that the defender would be part of their plans this time round.
Although Dawson is often in the first team squad for Albion come matchday, he has only played once in the Premier League. Despite this, the Bolton boss has revealed he has no intention of making a fresh bid for his signature during the January transfer window, unless he is given encouragement to do so from the Hawthorns club.
“I’ve made no contact with them since the beginning of the season, or just after,” he told the Bolton News. “They said to me he is not coming out on loan and he’s going to be in the squad every week, and he has been. I have spoken to his agent and he tells me Craig is very, very determined to make it in the West Brom side, so therefore I’ve not wasted a lot of energy running after that one. It feels like it’s far away.”
Having been relegated two years ago, Bolton are finding it hugely difficult to bounce back into the Premier League. Their chances of doing so this season are already all but over, and they could instead face a fight to retain their status in the second-tier. At present, they are languishing in 18th spot, just six points clear of the relegation zone.
