Sparkling 2022 cameo set Bolton Wanderers supporters up for heartbreak: View | OneFootball

Marlon Fossey starred on loan at the Trotters, but did not return after his first spell

The 2022 January transfer window is a memorable one for many connected to Bolton Wanderers due to the stellar business they conducted that month, and one particular loanee they brought in will be remembered for years to come with happiness, but also some regret.

The Trotters were struggling to get to grips with life back in League One after promotion from League Two in 2020/21, and sat 16th in the table at the start of 2022 with just two wins in their previous 12 games, so change was clearly needed.

In came the likes of Dion Charles, Aaron Morley, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Kyle Dempsey, all of whom have been key to Wanderers over the last few years, but it was Fulham loanee Marlon Fossey that immediately captured the hearts of the Trotters' faithful.

Fossey played a crucial role in his short spell at the University of Bolton Stadium as the team's form massively improved, and Wanderers fans and boss Ian Evatt alike would no doubt have loved to have kept him at the club past that season in any capacity, but he instead joined Belgian side Standard Liege on a permanent deal from parent club Fulham, causing heartbreak for Bolton.

Fossey impressed for Bolton

Big things were not particularly expected of Fossey upon his arrival in the north-west, after he had failed to shine on loan at Shrewsbury Town in the previous campaign, and had only played nine senior games in his career up to that point.

Despite his inexperience, he was given an immediate starting berth by Evatt for his debut against Wycombe Wanderers, but the Chairboys won 2-0 and Bolton continued their poor form with him in the side.

That did not last for long though, as Evatt's men went on a seven-game unbeaten run, with six wins in that time, and Fossey started every single match at right-wing back while chipping in with an assist in a 6-0 rout of Sunderland, and then a goal and assist in a 3-2 win at Oxford United.

Their good form slowed down into March, but the USA youth international continued his impressive showings with another assist in a 4-0 win over AFC Wimbledon, and then two more in a 3-0 victory over struggling Gillingham.

His Trotters spell soon came to an abrupt, untimely end though, as a torn meniscus in his left knee in a loss to Plymouth saw his season end in mid-March, and he returned to Fulham for treatment.

Bolton were understandably rumoured to want the then-23-year-old back on loan for the 2022/23 campaign that summer after he rejected Fulham's new contract offer, but they reportedly moved on in June due to interest in his signature from higher clubs, and he instead joined Standard Liege in the Belgian top-flight.

Fossey was vital to Evatt's side as he perfectly suited his 3-4-1-2 formation, and his great performances from right-wing-back week-in, week-out helped them climb the table to eventually finish comfortably in the top-half on their return to the third-tier, and they have not looked back since with fifth and third-place finishes in the seasons since.

Fossey has gone from strength-to-strength

Fossey has proved his worth in Belgium so far and held his own in a top-flight full of big teams and players - he netted four goals and provided one assist in 28 games for Liege as they finished sixth in his debut season at the club, and then registered a goal and two assists in 32 games in his second campaign.

Now 25 and playing as a right-back, he has clearly improved the defensive side of his game after initially coming through the ranks as a winger, and could have that spell at Bolton to thank for toughening him up against League One players.

He is still an ever-present for Les Rouches, and has not missed a single minute of league action so far this season with Ivan Leko's side sitting in 10th.

While Bolton fans may have been disheartened that Fossey never returned to the club after his loan, they can likely take solace in the fact that he has gone on to bigger things, and was definitely stood in good stead for his career ahead following his time at the club.