Bolton Wanderers Boss On Another “Contract Extension” Of Another Star That Is

Bolton Wanderers boss plea to out of contract Ricardo Santos

STEVEN Schumacher wants Ricardo Santos to put contract matters to the back of his mind and concentrate on getting fully fit before the end of the season.

The big defender has missed the last eight games as he recovers from a pelvic injury but returned to the training ground this week to step up his rehabilitation.

Santos found his form affected over the Christmas period as he tried to play through the pain and has now had an injection intended to settle the problem.

Out of contract in the summer, the 29-year-old has been a staple in the Bolton first team for the last four seasons and has made more than 200 appearances in all competitions.

And while Schumacher has yet to see him fit and firing, he is wishing him well on the road to a full recovery.

“There’s no denying the years I have coached against Bolton Wanderers I’ve always been trying to find a way past Ricardo Santos,” said the Bolton boss. “And we’ve struggled quite often.

“He’s a good player and he has been a huge part of this club and its rise over the last three or four seasons but I haven’t seen him train yet since we’ve been in the building.

“He has been playing with that niggling injury for a few months, trying to manage it, and I’ve had players before who have had that problem and it is really difficult. It’s not a nice injury at all.

“The best thing for him and for me, I think, the best focus would be to forget what’s happening at the end of the season contract-wise, just try and get his body right and get himself fit and firing.

If he does that then, again, he could be another one that could play a part in this season. His talent is undoubted.”

While the prospect of bringing Santos back into the squad is an exciting one for Schumacher down the line, he has stressed that there will be no fast-tracking into the starting line-up regardless of reputation.

Chris Forino has also got himself fit again and made a couple of substitute appearances but the Bolton boss is especially pleased with the recent form of Will Forrester and George Johnston, who have been mainstays in the side since his arrival a month ago.

There are lads in the side that have won five out of the last six, so it isn’t easy to say because someone’s fit again they drop straight into the team,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Ricardo or anyone else. You saw with Aaron Collins at the weekend he was left out of the starting line-up because we felt at the time that it was the best decision.

“Players always have the earn their way back in and if the team is performing and earning results then there might not be a need to change things.

“Chris (Forino) has trained every day pretty much since we’ve been here, he’s been on the grass, and every day he looks as though he’s getting stronger, he’s getting sharper.

“He played 60 minutes on Tuesday (for the B Team), he played 45 minutes the Tuesday before, and he looks as though he’s getting there or thereabouts, but again, he was a big signing for the club and someone we have high expectations for, but like all other players, he’s got to find a way to get Will and Jono out of the team, because they’re playing brilliant at the moment.

“It is the right thing to do if they’re playing well and they’re in good form, it’s got to be recognised, so Chris will have to just be patient and wait for his opportunity, and if it comes, take it.”