Ameobi and Bolton Wanderers have both struggled since they went their separate ways in January.
Sammy Ameobi extending his loan spell at Bolton Wanderers beyond the January transfer window would surely have benefitted all parties, as reported by the Bolton News. The winger had thrived at the Macron, his skill and pace on the wing helping Phil Parkinson’s side push on towards the top of the table.
Bolton won ten of Ameobi’s last 14 games for the club while his long-range rocket in the 4-0 thrashing of Gillingham brought to mind nostalgia for the magic of Jay Jay Okocha or the inspiration of Youri Djorkaeff.
Consequently, Bolton boss Phil Parkinson hardly hid his desire to retain the winger.
“Sammy has been immense for us and he’s developing as a player,” he said in quotes reported by the Bolton News. “The team is evolving and so is he.
“We are pleased with him, he’s enjoying it here, obviously, we’d like to keep him.”
If Parkinson was desperate to extend the 24-year-old’s loan, hindsight only reinforces his importance to the club. Since Ameobi returned to Tyneside thanks to Newcastle United’s inability to add another winger to his squad in January, Bolton have won just two of their last 11 in all competitions with the lack of goals and creativity an issue that could wreck their promotion hopes, with Zach Clough’s exit to Nottingham Forest also a factor.
Ameobi, meanwhile, has featured in just 56 minutes of action since returning to the Championship leaders. It’s fair to say both player and club may be wishing things had turned out differently.
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