Celtic star signs: Bolton Wanderers' dream XI to face Preston on Championship opening day | OneFootball

Is this Bolton Wanderers' ideal starting 11 for their opening day clash against Preston North End on August 15?

Bolton Wanderers are back in the Championship for the first time since 2016 following their promotion last season.

Steven Schumacher will be keen to ensure the Whites are competitive, and potentially even avoid a relegation battle altogether.

The Whites have been active in the transfer market, bringing in a number of signings to bolster their chances of survival.

Bolton had to settle for the play-offs, but came through with victories over Stockport County and Bradford City to secure a place in the second tier.

But the hard work will really begin when the new season gets underway in just a couple of weeks.

Here, we look at what their dream starting XI could be when they face Preston North End in their opening game of the new campaign on August 15...

GK: Kayne van Oevelen

Jack Bonham joined Bolton last January, and helped the team gain promotion to the Championship, but he has never quite proved himself at Championship level.

The Whites have been linked with a loan move for Kanye van Ovelen, and the newly-signed Ipswich Town player could be the right man to take over the number one spot for the new campaign, having impressed in the Eredivisie last year with Voldendam.

LB: Max Conway

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Max Conway firmly cemented himself as the starting left-back at Bolton last season after loan spells at Crewe Alexandra and Fylde.

And the 22-year-old, who appeared 44 times in League One last season across the regular campaign and the play-offs, has earned the chance to keep his place in the team for life in the second tier, with a starting position against Preston likely.

CB: Eoin Toal

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Eoin Toal featured 37 times in League One last season, and is club captain under Schumacher, so his place in the team seems quite secure.

The centre-back has never played in the second tier of English football, but has earned the chance to show what he can do at this level.

CB: Ben Davies

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Ben Davies has joined Schumacher’s side as a free agent following his exit from Rangers, and the centre-back could go straight into the starting 11 as a successor for the departed George Johnston.

The 30-year-old has plenty of Championship experience from spells at Sheffield United, Birmingham City, Oxford United and Preston, and he could face his former side in his league debut for the Whites.

RB: Luca Stephenson

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After an impressive stint in the Scottish Premiership with Dundee United last season Luca Stephenson joined from Liverpool earlier this summer in a £700,000 deal, and he is an exciting addition to the squad, capable of playing in defence or in midfield.

And he has the chance to cement himself as the starting right-back at the start of the new campaign, as he will likely be given the nod against Preston over Spaniard Gaizka Larrazabal, who can also play more further forward as a winger, and Cyrus Christie too.

CM: Josh Sheehan

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Josh Sheehan has been a mainstay for the Whites over the last five seasons, and he registered three goals and four assists to help Bolton earn promotion last year.

The midfielder has earned the chance to compete in the Championship, and could be Schumacher’s choice to partner new signing David Watson.

CM: David Watson

Having racked up nearly 100 top flight appearances in Scotland at the age of 21, David Watson has arrived as a free agent from Kilmarnock, and the midfielder is an exciting addition to Schumacher’s engine room options.

The Scot could cement his place as a key part of the team next season, and he’ll be looking to make a strong first impression for the clash against Paul Heckingbottom’s side on August 15, but Xavier Simons will also be hoping to push for a start too.

LW: Kyliane Dong

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Kyliane Dong has arrived at Bolton this summer as part of a loan deal with Augsburg, and he will provide an outlet on the left flank after spending last season in France's second tier with Pau FC, where he scored six times.

The 21-year-old is likely to go straight into the starting line-up as a possible upgrade on Thierry Gale, with last season's loanee Ibrahim Cissoko deciding to join PEC Zwolle on a permanent basis.

AM: Ruben Rodrigues

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After departing Oxford United last summer, Ruben Rodrigues joined Bolton from Brazilian outfit Vitoria in January, and he proved an important part of the club’s promotion success and getting them over the line, contributing with two goals in the play-off final.

The Portuguese maestro has earned his chance to start in the Championship, and he will be gunning to get up and running in the second tier.

RW: Amario Cozier-Duberry

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Amario Cozier-Duberry spent last season on loan at Bolton where proved instrumental to the club gaining promotion to the Championship, scoring nine times and notching 13 assists.

While a permanent move to Schumacher’s side doesn’t appear to be on the table, it would be a dream for the winger to return for another loan spell for next season from Brighton.

Given they've already turned down a £5 million offer from Anderlecht though, and the likes of Rangers, West Ham and Hull are all sniffing around, it's going to take a lot for Bolton to convince the Seagulls to send the left-footed dynamo back to the Toughsheet.