Bolton Wanderers head coach Steven Schumacher says French winger Kyliane Dong is making strong progress and will soon be competing for a place in the starting lineup. The 21-year-old loanee from German side Augsburg has come off the bench in each of Bolton's first three matches this season, with his manager impressed by his development.
Schumacher's comments were reported by The Bolton News this week as his team prepares to host Lincoln City. Bolton finished third in League One last season with 74 points from 44 games, a record of 19 wins, 17 draws and 8 losses. Their goal difference of +19, built on 67 goals scored and 48 conceded, was a key factor in that strong campaign.
How has Kyliane Dong performed?
Kyliane Dong was signed this summer with the understanding he would need time to adapt to English football. Steven Schumacher has been pleased with the winger's rapid adjustment. He believes Dong is getting physically stronger and is handling the contact in League One much better. The coach also noted that the player's ball striking is becoming cleaner and more powerful with each training session.
Dong's last two substitute performances have been singled out as particularly positive. "He will be knocking on my door soon, I'm sure, if he keeps playing the way he is and keeps training the way he is to get starts," Schumacher said. This suggests the Frenchman is firmly in contention for a first start, potentially as soon as this weekend's match at the Toughsheet stadium. Fans can track his integration and the team's selections on the official squad page.
What was Bolton's result last weekend?
Bolton Wanderers drew 0-0 away at Queen's Park Rangers' Loftus Road on Saturday. It was a match where the visitors failed to register a single shot on target. The underlying statistics highlighted a defensive performance, with Bolton's expected goals (xG) at just 0.19 compared to QPR's 1.82.
Steven Schumacher acknowledged his side did not have their best attacking game. He felt they were slow at times and could have tested the opposition more with their best performance. However, he praised the collective defensive effort. "Without the ball the lads showed a great desire to keep a clean sheet, which is so important to this league," Schumacher stated. He emphasized that any point earned in the division is valuable.
What is next for Bolton Wanderers?
The immediate focus is a home game against Lincoln City this Saturday. Lincoln were crowned League One champions last season but have lost their opening two league fixtures to Middlesbrough and Portsmouth. Schumacher wants his team to be sharper in possession for this fixture. He highlighted the importance of building on the confidence generated by winning their first home game of the season last week.
Overall, the Bolton boss feels his squad has made a positive start to the new campaign. The team's recent form at the end of last season was a mixed bag, recorded as DWLDW. Maintaining consistency will be the challenge as they aim to build on last term's third-place finish. Supporters can follow the team's progress in the standings and view upcoming matches on the fixtures list.
Schumacher's message is clear. The point at QPR was hard-earned, but improvements are needed with the ball. Integrating in-form players like Kyliane Dong could provide the attacking spark required as Bolton look to climb the table from their current position.
