New Bolton Wanderers B team signing Matt Grivosti does not mind taking a leaf out of James Milner's book and be as versatile as possible in a bid to get as many minutes on the pitch as possible.
The 19-year-old forward joined the Whites over the summer as one of several signings made for the new B team under Matt Craddock. The team has been designed to bridge the gap between youth and first team football at Wanderers.
Grivosti joined the club from Warrington Town over the summer and got his, and indeed Bolton B team's first ever goal last night. Grivosti travelled back to Cantilever Park last night for a friendly clash.
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The clash ended all square as Matty Grivosti's opener was cancelled out by Isaac Buckley-Ricketts. Lamine Toure put Wanderers back in front on the stroke of half-time, before Sean Williams equalised from the penalty spot after the break to ensure the clash ended all square.
Grivosti was pleased to get on the scoresheet against his old side, but was respectful with his celebration towards his former employers. He feels settled at Wanderers and is looking forward to getting involved in competitive action after the final pre-season friendly.
He said: "You always want to score when you get your chance. On the left wing, I enjoyed it. I didn’t want t give it too much but the lads knew how much it meant to me with their celebration, so maybe it came out from them. It was good to score and to get a result would have been even better. To get a draw, we will take it. It is progress.
"The first goal, we felt like ‘we’ve got the first, we can kick on from there’. And then Lamine gets a second and you are pushing for more, you feel like can score. When you haven’t scored, you don’t feel like it is ever going to come. But once we got that first, I think a few lads believed they were going to score. Over the next few games, hopefully we get more goals in the league.
"I’ve loved it. The first few games have been back in non-league, so I have introduced the lads who haven’t played in non-league to it and they have introduced me to full-time football. It has been great, I have met loads of new mates and just enjoying it really.
"Getting into the reserve league will be tough. There are some tough games in there, I know the first game will be tough. But I think it is at home so hopefully we can get back on our nice pitch!"
Grivosti has featured in a number of positions in pre-season, including out on the left flank against his old side. It is something he is happy to do and wants to take a leaf from the book of a player for who has been versatile throughout his career.
Former Manchester City and Leeds United midfielder James Milner, currently at Liverpool, has been famous for being versatile and play in a variety of positions. It is something that Liverpool fan Grivosti is keen to adopt himself as he embarks on the challenging journey of potentially playing for the Wanderers first team one day.
He said: "I can play most positions really and it is something that is good to have. You look at some of the top players – James Milner has played every position on the pitch.
"As a Liverpool fan, I don’t mind being someone like him. If it gets you on the pitch and you get to express yourself, that is what you come for. You always come to play 90 minutes or however many you can. If I play a position, I am happy to be there.
"I am getting myself into the new environment and then I will look to get more minutes with the B Team. If a chance arrives, I have got to be ready to take it.
"I can’t turn it down and say, ‘Gaffer, I’m not ready’. I’ve got to be ready for that moment so I am working hard to get there.
"Everyone wants to be in the first team but you know you have got to progress through the ranks. Starting with the lads we are playing with - we play the gaffer’s style, we try to play his formation.
"We always have someone around us who is part of the first team, who is helping us pass on those messages from the gaffer. It is good to mirror them and once we get that chance, you really can step on it and push."
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