Steven Schumacher may have struck gold with Bolton Wanderers deal - He's seeing what Blackburn Rovers didn't | OneFootball

One Bolton Wanderers player in particular is turning heads following his move to the club this summer...

Bolton Wanderers have begun the 2025/26 League One campaign in contrasting fashion, taking a defeat and a victory from their opening two encounters as a hopeful promotion push awaits in Steven Schumacher's first full season in charge at the Toughsheet Stadium.

The Trotters endured a disappointing introduction to the new season by falling to a tame 2-0 defeat away from home to a potential promotion rival in Stockport County, who put Schumacher's side to the sword with goals either side of the interval from Malik Mothersille and Kyle Wooton on the opening weekend.

However, they dusted themselves down to open their account of victory for the campaign as they won by the same scoreline in a dominant performance on Saturday afternoon against Plymouth Argyle, with goals from Eoin Toal and summer signing Mason Burstow handing Bolton their first three points of 25/26.

Plymouth, though in a period of uncertain transition both on and off the field, were relegated at the end of the previous Championship campaign, meaning that they are naturally alongside Cardiff City and Luton Town in facing the pressure and expectation of competing for promotion this term.

That makes Bolton's victory display something of a statement of intent, then, and they have enjoyed the sort of busy summer window which indicates promotion as an undoubted objective moving into Schumacher's first full season at the helm after taking over in January before finishing the term outside the play-offs.

Bolton have made ten signings and counting, with their moves for Ethan Erhahon, Teddy Sharman-Lowe and Charlie Warren all exclusively revealed by Football League World.

The arrivals of Burstow, Thierry Gale and Xavier Simons, meanwhile, also represent exciting business, although it's Amario Cozier-Duberry's move to the North West which appears to be the real game-changer to date.

Amario Cozier-Duberry has made a strong start at Bolton Wanderers

Cozier-Duberry joined on loan from Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion last month and has wasted little time in endearing himself to Bolton supporters with a series of expressive, high-quality displays following his arrival.

The winger turned heads with a sensational curled effort scored in pre-season against Hibernian before featuring on the scoresheet once again just a week later in a 2-0 victory over Preston North End.

Crucially, though, Cozier-Duberry's brilliance has not been limited to pre-season, with the winger instrumental in Saturday's win against the Pilgrims.

Quiet in the opening weekend defeat at Stockport, the 20-year-old was nothing short of unplayable when Plymouth came to town. His cross was turned home by Burstow on the hour mark to hand Bolton that all-important breathing room to see the game out in style after going ahead before the break, and Cozier-Duberry proved a handful throughout by creating the most chances and completing the most dribbles in the match with four apiece.

He was, make no mistake about it, the best player on the pitch by some distance, with his remarkable first-touch-turned mazy solo run through the Plymouth team earning wider recognition on social media and serving to showcase just what a talent Bolton have landed for the season.

Blackburn Rovers, however, may just be watching events unfold with a tinge of envy, having fallen short of getting the best out of the one-time Arsenal prodigy during a less-fruitful loan spell at Ewood Park last time out.

Bolton Wanderers' Amario Cozier-Duberry struggled on loan at Blackburn Rovers

Cozier-Duberry is displaying every sign of becoming a sensational driving force in what Bolton will hope to be a tangible and successful promotion charge this season, but he was some way off ever being that figure across his first senior loan spell at Blackburn in 24/25.

The tricky winger's arrival in East Lancashire was welcomed with excitement, too, courtesy of a developed reputation as one of the most promising young wide players in the country during his days with Arsenal's academy before joining Brighton last summer.

Off the current evidence, Bolton supporters will be curious as to why Cozier-Duberry was afforded such limited opportunities to establish his worth at Championship level, as he started just six of his 22 league appearances spread across 712 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, Cozier-Duberry struggled to return a strong output and had to wait until December to open his account in a 2-0 win against Luton Town, which marked his first and only direct goal involvement for the club.

Bolton, though, are seeing what Blackburn did not and what Arsenal and Brighton have both seen for themselves - the key difference, of course, is that the Trotters are witnessing the England youth international's mesmeric talent in the senior game.

Blessed with speed, technical class, an array of tricks and a final ball to boot, Cozier-Duberry is more than capable of lighting up League One and his ability is translatable to the Championship, too, which may leave Blackburn with no shortage of regret while Bolton continue to enjoy being the beneficiaries of the forward's rich quality.