Ian Evatt believes the experience and vocal presence was the 'biggest asset' that veteran goalkeeper Matt Gilks brought to the plate for Bolton Wanderers in the victory over Salford City.
The 38-year-old was given his Wanderers debut last night in the 2-0 victory at the University of Bolton Stadium over the Ammies.
Eoin Doyle gave Wanderers a first half lead before Jordan Turnbull's own goal after the break helped ensure Bolton picked up their second home win of the campaign with a 2-0 win.
Gilks came in for young goalkeeper Billy Crellin who dropped to the bench having previously played every minute of Bolton's season.
The veteran stopper kept a clean sheet on his debut for the club and could be heard throughout the game giving instructions to his team-mates and organising the defence.
And this quality was pinpointed by Wanderers head coach Evatt as being the biggest asset Gilks brought to the table and is something which young goalkeepers Crellin and Matthew Alexander can learn from.
Thought admitting this is becoming a 'lost art', Evatt pointed to the communication skills on the pitch in the Premier League which has become more obvious due to no crowds and playing inside quiet stadiums due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s great because it saves mine and Peter’s voice because we’ve started to lose ours with having to coach throughout the game!" Evatt joked.
"I think development-wise for our young players and our young goalkeepers, Matt Alexander and Billy Creelin, that should be an example to them.
"Just by using your voice and organising it helps you concentrate but it also helps everybody else concentrate and puts people in position and pulls people around and that was really pleasing.
"That was the biggest asset I thought that he bought to the team was his sheer voice and experience.
“I agree it is a lost art but what I will say is I think if you listen and progress through the levels, the highest level if you watch Premier League football when there’s no crowds in and you turn the crowd noise off, the amount of communication that goes on in those games at the top level between the back four/three, the midfielder lines, the strikers.
"It’s constant because there’s that much interchanging and rotation with these top teams, you have to speak and organise and it is a lost art.
"But we have to make sure our young players are learning that trait and starting to talk more in our games."
