Richard Taylor’s pre-season surge forces Bolton Wanderers to reconsider

Bolton Wanderers have reopened the door for Richard Taylor after the defender’s shock fitness turnaround in pre-season. The 25-year-old, who had been tipped to leave the club this summer, has silenced doubters with his rapid physical improvement in Slovakia.

Taylor made just one league start for the Whites last season following his move from St Mirren. He did not feature in a first-team squad after January 4 and struggled with injuries, including a setback away at Hibs. But the defender has now shaved over a minute off his 2km time in pre-season testing, leaving Ian Schumacher impressed.

What went wrong for Taylor last season?

Taylor’s 2025-26 campaign never got going. After joining Bolton from St Mirren, he failed to break into Ian Schumacher’s matchday squads from early January. The defender’s physical gap to Championship demands became clear in the opening pre-season sessions, and an injury at Hibs compounded his struggles.

“He just really struggled to stay with the group, physically,” Schumacher told The Bolton News. “What he’d been doing with St Mirren compared to what we do down here was a lot different.”

Why Taylor’s return matters for Bolton Wanderers

Taylor’s renaissance could hand him a lifeline in the left-back rotation. Max Conway’s early dominance of the slot left Taylor out in the cold last term, though he did play in a handful of cup games. Schumacher now expects to field him alongside Conway, Sam Inwood, and new signing Akin Famewo in Slovakia.

“As long as he’s our player, he gets treated exactly the same,” the head coach said. “The door is never closed for anyone—you just have to work hard and be a good teammate.”

What comes next for Bolton Wanderers?

Schumacher’s side started pre-season in Bratislava with five new faces: Kyliane Dong, Ben Davies, Luca Stephenson, Akin Famewo, and David Watson. The boss praised the mix, singling out Dong as “really exciting” after just two days with the group.

Wanderers are also strongly linked with a season-long loan for Auxerre striker Theo Bair. With Taylor’s future now back in play, Bolton’s defensive options look sharper heading into the new campaign.