HUDDERSFIELD Town could face a new threat as Bolton Wanderers look to add to their squad as they bid to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Manager Dougie Freedman is believed to be running the rule over Norwegian youth international winger Dawda Leigh.
The 26-year-old, who is out of contract with Sandefjord at the end of the Norwegian League season which finished last month, is now a free agent and Freedman is believed to be keen on the player.
However, whether he faces Town is debatable and Freedman could be viewing the Scandinavian as a replacement for England Under 21 midfielder Jacob Butterfield, who will return to Premier League outfit Norwich City after the trip to Town on Saturday as his one month loan will have ended.
The 22-year-old Bradford-born player is expected to return to East Anglia with Canaries boss Chris Hughton keen to include him in their squad to face Aston Villa in the Capital One Cup quarter-final next Tuesday.
Bolton boss Freedman will also be taking a long look at Bulgarian international Martin Petrov as his side prepare for the trip to the John Smith’s Stadium.
The former Manchester City winger missed last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat against struggling Ipswich Town due to a hamstring injury, but Wanderers were expecting the 33-year-old to have a good chance of being fit to face Town.
The Reebok Stadium setback left the Trotters 18th in the Championship table – three places and three points behind Simon Grayson’s side.
However, Bolton midfielder Keith Andrews, a reported summer target for Town, felt that the Wanderers players had to stand firm after fans’ criticism of the performance against Ipswich.
“Regardless of what the fans are saying, or if they want the ball to be going forward quicker, we need to be stronger and say ‘no, we need to go backwards to go forward for the next two’. That’s the way the manager wants to play, with a passing style,” said the 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international.
“I’m sure people will scrutinise every possible reason for why we haven’t produced.
“But from a players’ point of view we have to hold our hands up and say we didn’t hit the heights we should have done.
“As a player you obviously want to play every game.
“But with the intensity and the regularity of the games in this league, the sports science, and the quality within the squad, the manager feels he can chop and change – and up until now it’s been successful.
“The manager has worked hard on the system he wants to play.
“Our training has been very intense throughout and there have been a lot of off-the-field video meetings.
“Regardless of what position you are playing, you come into it and know what you are doing. As players it’s up to us to take it on board.”
We are still in the race says Huddersfield Town striker Simon Church: Click here to read
