Bolton move has left Ryan Hardie with a big problem after Wrexham exit

Bolton Wanderers have made a solid start to life back in the Championship, but Ryan Hardie may already be discovering that his move to the club comes with a difficult challenge.

The Trotters returned to the second tier in style last season, beating Stockport County 4-1 at Wembley in the League One play-off final. Their promotion was followed by a major squad overhaul, with a number of players departing as Fergal Harkin and Jimmy Dickinson set about reshaping the team.

Bolton eventually brought in 13 new players, with much of their recruitment focused on finding the right profiles for Championship football. Hardie was one of those additions, and there was plenty of reason to believe the Scottish striker could thrive under Steven Schumacher.

The pair had already worked together at Plymouth Argyle, where Hardie became a key figure during their promotion campaign before producing consecutive double-figure Championship seasons.

But his situation at Bolton is already beginning to look complicated.

Sam Dalby has established himself as the main man

Hardie’s biggest obstacle is arguably the form of Sam Dalby.

The former Wrexham striker eventually became one of the driving forces behind Bolton’s promotion campaign after initially struggling for regular opportunities. His performances earned him the club’s Player of the Year award, while his goals and hold-up play made him an important part of the team’s success.

Dalby has also carried that form into the Championship, scoring three times during Bolton’s opening eight matches.

That makes it extremely difficult for Hardie to force his way into the starting XI.

Bolton also added Theo Bair on loan from Motherwell after failing to complete a deal for Max Dean. Although Bair has yet to start, his impact from the bench against Cardiff City immediately demonstrated another quality he can offer Schumacher.

His late cross helped Thierry Gale score the winner, giving Bolton another attacking option alongside Dalby.

For Hardie, that means the competition for minutes has become even tougher.

Schumacher’s system could be another problem

There is also a tactical issue that could make Hardie’s fight for regular football even more difficult.

At Plymouth, Hardie was at his best when Schumacher used a 3-4-1-2 or 3-5-2 system. Those formations allowed him to play alongside another forward and make the most of his movement behind defenders.

His ability to run into space and cause problems with his movement was a major part of his success.

Bolton, however, have generally been using a 4-2-3-1 system.

That setup places different demands on the centre-forward, with the striker often expected to provide a physical focal point and bring attacking teammates into play.

Dalby is well suited to that role, while Bair offers a similar physical option.

Hardie’s strengths are somewhat different.

The 29-year-old is at his most dangerous when he can attack space and arrive in scoring positions rather than constantly playing as a lone target man.

Hardie needs to make his opportunities count

There is still plenty of time for the striker to change the situation.

Hardie’s previous record under Schumacher shows that he knows how to score goals when the system suits him, and Bolton have already demonstrated that their substitutes can play an important role late in matches.

That could eventually work in Hardie’s favour.

If Bolton are chasing games late on, his movement inside the box could become particularly valuable. He could potentially offer Schumacher a different type of threat when tired defenders begin to leave gaps.

However, with Dalby performing well and Bair now competing for minutes, Hardie cannot afford to waste the opportunities that come his way.

His recent spells at Wrexham and Huddersfield were interrupted by limited playing time and injuries, and his brief appearances for Bolton have not yet provided enough evidence that he is ready to take the starting role.

For now, Hardie’s biggest challenge may simply be finding a way into Schumacher’s plans on a regular basis.

And with Bolton already sitting comfortably in their new Championship environment, that opportunity may not come as quickly as the striker would have hoped.