New recruit Josh Dacres-Cogley is doing everything he can to make his mark at Wanderers as the Whites head towards their first pre-season friendly.
The super-fit summer signing from Tranmere Rovers made a positive impact in his first week’s training with the Whites in Portugal.
And Dacres-Cogley is keeping up the good work back in Bolton as he competes for a starting spot in Ian Evatt’s line-up come the start of the campaign.
“Training in the heat (in Portugal) and working hard shows your team-mates what kind of person you are,” said Dacres-Cogley.
“I think I set a good example of myself and what I like to do in training and how hard I work, so hopefully I can keep building on that throughout the season.
“Anywhere you go – any club in the league – you want to hit the ground running and make a good impression.
“Even though they (the management) have seen you play and watched all the clips, you want to give that good account of yourself.
“There are certain things they might not see, certain things in training and your attitude and stuff.
“You’ve always got to try and stay focused and positive and give it all you’ve got because that shows and they see that.”
Dacres-Cogley is welcoming a healthy competition for places at Wanderers as one of five new faces to arrive at the Toughsheet Community Stadium so far this summer.
And the former Birmingham City wing-back hopes the 100 games he chalked up with Tranmere over the past two seasons will stand him in good stead for a planned climb back up the divisions.
“That’s when you get a successful team, when you know everyone’s competing and there’s no bad blood about competing in that way. We’ve got to prove that we’ll do that this year,” added the 27-year-old.
“To go to Tranmere and get those games under my belt served me very well. That’s what I needed – probably earlier if I could have done. It worked out that was the time I did it and now I’m here so hopefully I can carry on going.
“Speaking to the manager before I came to the club, he was adamant we would be pushing to get to the Championship. That’s always what I’ve strived to do, so I’ll be trying my hardest to help the boys get there.”
Dacres-Cogley could make his first appearance in a Wanderers’ shirt at Bamber Bridge on Saturday when Evatt’s men play for their opening pre-season friendly.
The Whites have six public fixtures pencilled as they build towards their League One opener at home to Lincoln City on Saturday, 5 August.
“You always want the games to come,” said Dacres-Cogley. “I can’t wait for the games to start and then to play at Bolton for the first pre-season game will be a good experience.
“Pre-season is a build-up to that first game. You want to hit the ground running so we will be looking to do and working to do that on that first Saturday.”
To watch our full chat with Dacres-Cogley in pre-season at Wanderers’ training camp in Portugal click on the video above.