"The challenge" - Bolton Wanderers issue outlined for forgotten Luton Town transfer | OneFootball

Carlos Mendes Gomes hasn't started a league fixture for the Wanderers for close to a year

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Carlos Mendes Gomes has been something of a forgotten man at Bolton Wanderers this season, with the former Luton Town man managing to feature in League One action just three times during the current campaign.

The forward spent the best part of ten months on the sidelines between February and December of last year after picking up an Achilles injury in the second half of last season and has slowly been working himself back up to full fitness after his time out of the game.

With Wanderers replacing Ian Evatt with Steven Schumacher in the dugout last month, there has been more emphasise on width with the former Plymouth Argyle boss at the helm, which could well incorporate Mendes Gomes back into the fold.

With that in mind, we spoke to Football League World’s Trotters fan pundit Liam O'Meara about the 26-year-old’s situation right now, as he looked to put a year of injury hell behind him.

Carlos Mendes Gomes scenario pondered after Bolton Wanderers return nears

Mendes Gomes’ appearance in the 2-1 defeat to Barnsley on Boxing Day was the first time Bolton fans will have seen their forward in competitive action since the penultimate day of February last year, where he was forced off after just 20 minutes in a trip to Wigan Athletic.

Since then, Trotters fans will have seen two more tentative outings in the final few minutes of league clashes with Lincoln City and Mansfield Town, as well as another late appearance against the Imps in the EFL Trophy.

After so long without playing competitive action, it has been understandable hard for the attacker to work his way back into the team of late, and the change of management has done nothing for his chances of first-team action, with no game time since Schumacher was appointed at the end of last month.

With a whole host of players capable of filling the wide roles when required, O’Meara believes Mendes Gomes will need to bide his time and wait for his chance right now, with Wanderers having plenty of attacking options at their disposal.

When asked about the forward, the Trotters fan said: “Carlos Mendes Gomes… it is not over for him in terms of opportunities.

“The fact that we do play some width does open up the idea that he could play in a more natural position, and therefore prove his worth to the team.

“The challenge that he has got, is that he has got to dislodge quite a lot of players to get that opportunity because Bolton are full of players that would naturally call themselves wingers, that have been repurposed or played out of possession under Ian Evatt.

“Aaron Collins is a classic example, arguably John McAtee and Randell Williams is another similar example of a player being repurposed but maybe naturally a winger.”

Szabolcs Schön, Jordi Osei-Tutu form sees Carlos Mendes Gomes knocked down Bolton Wanderers pecking order

Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Leyton Orient saw Schumacher claim a third straight league victory to put his new side within touching distance of the League One play-offs, with only goal difference separating themselves and a place in the top six.

The Trotters lined up with the familiar Szabolcs Schön on one flank and Jordi Osei-Tutu on either flank against the O’s with Mendes Gomes once again nowhere to be seen in the match day squad, as they came from behind to claim a crucial three points on their own turf.

With the strength in depth that they currently possess, and the form shown under their new boss showing no sign of slowing down, O’Meara cannot see any major changes happening soon, leaving Mendes Gomes out in the wilderness for the foreseeable future.

He continued: “Szabolcs Schön seems to be in possession of a starting berth, while Jordi Osei-Tutu has looked brilliant when he has been given opportunities now that he is starting to hold some fitness.

“It is going to be tough for Carlos Mendes Gomes to get a position, but when he does get a chance he needs to make sure he takes it.

“I am just not sure that the chance will come quickly enough for him.”