Zach Clough - a Star is Born

So there is really only one talking point tonight amongst Bolton Wanderers supporters - the performance of one Zach Clough.

Only 19, but now the official trademarked great white hope of the club.

Handed his debut against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup Third Round earlier, the Denton-born Clough was selected as Wanderers' wandering creative spark behind the central striker Emile Heskey.

Vindicating Lennon's bold selection, everything went through the 5ft 4in playmaker who has been converted from an out-and-out striker by the Wanderers boss into a more rounded attacking presence.

Indeed the lad could have had a hatful, and it was only upon his fourth sight of goal in the 75th minute that he clipped a neat finish over ex-Wanderers keeper Ali Al Habsi into the Wigan goal, handing the Whites passage into the fourth round.

Lenny had the following to say of the Wanderers' striking starlet:

‘It augurs well,'

‘We know with young players there may be a dip here or there but he is a talent. He is very diminutive but he's very strong, has a great low centre of gravity.

He continued

"He can drop the shoulder and go by people, and run with the ball at pace, and nine times out of 10 he takes the right option. He was a real threat.'

It was thrilling to see the confidence with which Clough attacked the Wigan defenders. Jinking runs coupled with accurate shooting got the home supporters on their feet - as they rose as one when Clough was replaced by Eidur Gudjohnsen towards the end of the game.

A star was born today at the Reebok, and I cannot wait to see more of him.