Temitope Obadeyi believes he can make a major impact at Bolton but admits he may have to leave the club in order to fulfill his first-team ambitions.
Obadeyi joined Wanderers from Coventry City in 2006, at the age of 16, but has struggled to make the step up from the reserve team at the Reebok Stadium, having made just three senior appearances for the club.
The 22-year-old is retaining hope of breaking into Owen Coyle's plans, but admits he may have to consider his options if the chance of a transfer came about in the future.
"There is no talk about me playing for the first team," Obadeyi told FootyMatters.com. "I'm a reserve player.
"If the chance comes along to drop down to the Championship and play on a regular basis then I feel like I've got to take it.
"I'm 22-years-old now and I'm not getting any younger. I'm seeing players that I've come up through the ranks with succeeding for the respective clubs and I want to prove my ability.
"If the chance presents itself, why not? It is quite frustrating when you see the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Scott Sinclair and Andy Carroll, all former England team-mates of mine, doing well for their respective clubs.
"I have had four or five seasons in the reserves and there is only so much you can do. It's not like I've played 50 or 100 senior games so you do get regrets. If I'd stayed at Coventry I'd have probably had more chances because they are in the Championship."
Although he believes staying at Coventry may have been better for him in the long-term, Obadeyi has played down any rumours of a rift with Trotters boss Owen Coyle.
"It's not like we have had a falling out, because we haven't," he said.
"His man-management is great and I haven't got a bad word to say against him.
"I believe that I could make a difference in the first team and feel that I could bring something different to the table. You've got to back your own ability."
Obadeyi has regularly been loaned out by Bolton in recent seasons, where he has managed just three goals in 37 appearances for Swindon Town, Rochdale, Shrewsbury Town and Chesterfield combined.
Pos | Team | Pld | Pts |
7 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 80 |
8 | Oxford United | 46 | 76 |
9 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 73 |
10 | Portsmouth | 46 | 73 |
11 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 70 |
View Full Standings >> |
Who is Bolton's 2021/22 Player of the Year? | |
---|---|
32.58% | Oladapo Afolayan |
30.96% | Gethin Jones |
21.72% | Ricardo Almeida Santos |
5.51% | Declan John |
4.05% | Kieran Lee |
3.08% | MJ Williams |
1.78% | Joel Dixon |
0.32% | George Johnston |