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Steven Crawford

Rising Northern Ireland star helps shoot down Manchester United

Conor Bradley continues to impress on-loan at Bolton Wanderers as the teenage defender helped shoot down Manchester United.

The Liverpool loanee chipped in with a goal and assist in the 4-0 win over the Reds old rivals in the 4-0 EFL Trophy win.

It moved the former Dungannon Youth star on to five goals and five assists in 25 games for Bolton this season.

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Wanderers boss Ian Evatt wants to retain the full back's service for the remainder of the season and is hoping the Anfield club agree.

“All I can say is the messaging we’ve had from Liverpool is really consistent throughout and they want him to be here for the remainder of the season," Evatt told the Bolton News.

"From what I understand from Conor, he loves this place, he loves being with us and wants to be a part of it for the remainder of the season.

“I don’t envisage that changing. If it does it does and that’s out of our hands. But all we’ve done is show Conor and Liverpool that we are a trusted ally and that we can develop and help their players grow and I think we’ve done that for Conor.

“When we bought Conor in, it was to give him the platform to have a full season of men’s football and to have a good season, a successful season, and somewhere he can grow and develop.

“I don’t see why the plans should change because we’ve stuck to our half of the bargain."

Returning Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill certainly feels the 19-year-old will be “a big part of things going forward” for his country.

"I was well aware of Conor Bradley, even from the point of when he was in the Victory Shield squad here, and had seen him play. His progress at Liverpool, I have always kept an eye on how he's doing," he told the Irish FA.

"His loan at Bolton has been very successful so he's done extremely well. The only game I attended since I left was the Greece game here in the Nations League in June and he played that night, so it was nice to see him obviously start at international level as well.

“I think everyone knows that Conor is going to be a big part of things going forward."

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