Promising Everton star Williams impressed on his debut for loan side Bolton.
Bolton Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson has told The Bolton News that Everton loanee Joe Williams is “immense” and a “very good signing” after his debut against Preston on Saturday.
Bolton came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Preston in the Championship encounter at Deepdale, as Pawel Olkowski and Sammy Ameobi cancelled out Callum Robinson and Alan Browne’s goals.
Williams started the match and saw out the entire 90 minutes, playing in the number 10 role in Bolton’s 4-2-3-1 system and impressed with a fiery, passionate display twinned with plenty of excellent passes and nice touches.
Indeed, Parkinson was full of praise for his new number 21, telling Bolton News that he had to beat a number of clubs to land the Everton academy product – but is glad he did.
“What a debut. I thought he was immense,” Parkinson said. “He’s a great all-round midfield player. We’ve played against Preston before and Ben Pearson has dictated the game but we weren’t prepared to let him this time. I don’t think he did.
“He’s confident and he’s good on the ball. We pursued him the whole summer and he was my number one target. We had to be patient because he got injured, and then we had to compete to get him, but he’s a very good signing for us.”
Williams has been a regular member of Everton’s second string in recent years, clocking up 62 appearances for Davis Unsworth’s side before going on loan to Barnsley last season.
He made 38 appearances in the Tykes’ fight against relegation, but was unable to help keep them up. An England Under-20 international, Williams will be hoping for more of the same with Everton looking on.
Kieran Dowell has returned to Everton after an excellent loan with Nottingham Forest and is in and around the first team. With two years left on his contract, Williams will be hoping to do the same.
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