LEE CLARK was trying to sign Danny Ward long before Anthony Pilkington’s injury.
The 20-year-old Bolton winger caught the Town manager’s eye when he was on loan at Swindon last season, with his nine goals in 32 games helping today’s Galpharm visitors reach the League I play-off final.
Now Ward will face the Robins having joined Town on loan until the end of this campaign and Clark, who gave him a debut as a half-time substitute at Brentford on Tuesday, said: “We’re delighted to have him here.
“Danny’s a very exciting player and I enquired about him back in the summer because even with Anthony Pilkington and Gary Roberts at the club, I wanted to have options and to keep the pressure on them.
“He ended up going to Coventry, but when he returned to Bolton because of a hernia problem, I kept on pestering (Wanderers manager) Owen Coyle.
“Owen kept me in the picture regarding his progress, but kept saying it wasn’t the right time for him to go back out on loan.
“Then I took a call from him as we were travelling down to Bristol for last Saturday’s game, and I also spoke to Danny’s agent.
“It was clear he had become available, and while there were other clubs from both the Championship and League I after him, Owen wanted to push him our way and Danny was keen to come as well.
“At Brentford he showed glimpses that prove he’s a quick and powerful lad who likes to make and score goals. He fits our criteria and he’ll have a big role to play here.”
Bradford-born Ward, who has made two Bolton appearances since joining them from Leeds in 2009, said: “I had a little bit of a reaction after my hernia operation, but I’m fully fit now and ready to do everything I can to help Huddersfield win promotion.”
