Bolton boss 'can't speak highly enough' of Kioso

Bolton manager Ian Evatt says he 'can't speak highly enough' of Peter Kioso after the young defender phoned him personally to explain he would not be returning to the club.

Kioso became a key player for the Trotters during his four-month loan spell from Luton Town in the first half of the season, scoring three goals in 13 appearances.

But he was recalled by Hatters boss Nathan Jones at the start of January before being loaned back out, this time to Northampton.

“To be honest, I can’t speak highly enough of Peter as a lad," Evatt told the Bolton News. "Peter picked up the phone to me on Sunday night personally and called me to tell me what was happening and also said how grateful and thankful he was for having this opportunity and being part of this football club and learning from me.

"But I understand that he’s a 21-year-old kid away from home in the middle of a pandemic and that’s really challenging and difficult for these lads and we forget that.

"Some of these young players are staying in the club hotel and other than being at work, can’t socialise with anybody else. They’re away from their families, away from their parents, it’s a really challenging time.

"I respect the fact that he will have loved to have come back in normal circumstances, but the fact that he can live at home and be with his family was a big plus and the fact that they’re in League One.

"I have to respect that, I do respect that, and we thank Luton and Nathan for lending him to us for the period of time that they did and thank Peter for all his efforts.”

Bolton fans expressed their frustration on social media when Kioso's loan to Northampton was confirmed, but Evatt says it was an amicable agreement.

He added: “Nathan was delighted with the progress he’s made and he called me personally to tell me that.

"He said that what we’ve been teaching him and what we’ve coached him is excellent and he’s come back in real good shape.

"He was really pleased and Nathan would have been more than happy for him to come back here.

"From what I understand, it was the player’s personal decision purely for the reasons that I’ve just stated and you have to respect that and I do respect that.”