What would Jan Gregus' Bolton Wanderers impact be?

Despite the Daily Mirror and Wikipedia claiming otherwise, Jan Gregus is not wearing a Bolton Wanderers shirt full time just yet. He spent some time yesterday talking up his potential move to the Trotters, saying things like: "The coach saw me in the match against Romania and wanted me to come. I am not interested in joining any other clubs," and "I'm happy. If someone had told me during the autumn that I would be at a Championship club in the spring, I would not have believed it."

It certainly makes the young Slovakian midfielder sound like he wants to be at the club but if and when the move does happen, how much will Jan Gregus actually contribute?

Well, you should be thinking less Marvin Sordell and more Joe McKee.

It's perfectly reasonable for some Bolton Wanderers fans to not know who Joe McKee is. The 20-year-old midfielder signed for Bolton Wanderers last summer on a free transfer after being let go by Burnley. McKee, formerly of Dundee United and Livingston, has not made a single first team appearance for Bolton since formally signing in July.

Instead, he's been far down the ranks, toiling in Bolton's U21 team. This season, he made nine appearances in the U21 Premier League for Bolton, starting all nine of those games. He was on the bench a further three times but did not make a substitute appearance in that role. McKee did come on as a substitute in Tuesday's Manchester Senior Cup match against Oldham Athletic when he replaced Stu Holden in the 65th minute.

What is the point, you ask?

Unlike Marvin Sordell, Joe McKee was not signed by Bolton Wanderers with the hopes of him making an immediate first team impact. It obviously didn't exactly go to plan but Marvin Sordell was brought in to slot right into the lineup and score some goals.

That won't be the case for Jan Gregus.

Gregus is being signed as a development player with the hopes that he can eventually progress into a starter. That, however, is some ways off. Gregus is being signed to work with the U21s and to grow.

In fact, apart from Marvin Sordell and arguably Joe Riley and Josh Vela, when is the last time that Bolton Wanderers had a 21-year-old (or younger) player really burst onto the first team picture? Not counting loan signings like Benik Afobe, Jack Wilshere, and Daniel Sturridge (who all likely had playing time guarantees in their deals), you very likely have to look all the way back to Nicky Hunt, Kevin Nolan, and Dean Holden. Bolton Wanderers don't like to start their players young.

Don't expect an immediate impact out of him. Don't expect his name on the first team sheet any time soon.