Ian Evatt wants to see further improvement in Liam Gordon's contributions in the final third of the pitch and take a leaf out of Bolton Wanderers team mate Declan John's book by building on his attacking game.
The 22-year-old has deputised for John this season when the former Swansra City full-back has been unavailable for Wanderers and impressed when given the chance.
It was a diificult time for Gordon last season at Wanderers, playing 15 times for the club, mostly in the early stages of the season before losing his place and heading out on loan to Dagenham and Redbridge in the National League.
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Gordon played 23 times on loan for the Daggers and scored four times in the second half of the campaign.
He has come back this summer and has been a genuine back-up to first choice left-back John, with the Gordon deputising twice in League One against Lincoln City and on Monday evening against Burton Albion.
Evatt believes that Gordon has benefitted from going out and playing men's football and that his ability at the back is not in question.
And the Wanderers boss has called for Gordon to take a leaf out of John's book in the final third, as well as maintaining his belief in himself that he can do the job.
Evatt said: “Another lad that has taken on board everything from the start of last season to go out and get your head down and work hard to improve. Men’s football has helped him, he’s a young player.
“That back four against Burton, you’ve got Gethin (Jones) 25, Rico (Ricardo Santos) 25, George Johnston 22, and Liam Gordon 21 - that’s a young back four, but we’ve got some talented players and Liam has also listened, he’s also developing all the time.
“I have no problems with Liam defensively because he’s athletic, he’s strong. We just need to add the Declan John style attacking full-back and attacking play and his final third stuff, especially second half (against Burton), I thought was excellent.
“The biggest thing for me with Liam has always been his self belief and it is knowing that he can and telling himself that he can do it regardless of levels.
“Reputations are just names on the back of shirts, they mean nothing, you have to go and earn reputations by playing well and Liam is a very good football player and has lots of attributes to be a top player and it’s now about learning, staying grounded and keep improving and he’s doing that at the moment.”
