New loan signing Chris Stokes will keep his place for the visit of promotion seeking Notts County this weekend after making his senior debut for the club at Torquay. The Bolton teenager was signed on one-month loan deal as cover for the struggling Matt Tootle and suspended Carl Martin.

Stokes is playing for his future at Bolton as he enters the final year of his three-year scholarship and Dario Gradi says having the 19-year-old with us for a month will give us an opportunity to have a look at him if Bolton were to allow him leave. Dario admits though that the Premier League side have shown no signs about not offering him a new deal in the summer.

Dario told crewealex.net: "Chris came in and was fine. He wasn't outstanding but I didn't expect him to be because it was all done very quickly and I hadn't done any work with him.

"He grew in confidence and got stronger as the game went on. He had an excellent temperament for it and he has justified his inclusion for this weekend. There is no reason to leave him out, and it won't do Matt Tootle any harm to have a rest.

"Matt has had a superb season and he can be proud of what he has achieved in terms of the games he has played and the performances he has put in.

"Bringing Chris here gives us a chance to have a look at him and for him to play some competitive games. I don't know what his future is because Bolton have not given me any indication that they are willing to let him go in the summer.

Dario added: "I think both parties will benefit over the month but he knows he has to earn his place in the team. He will go back after the month so Matt can finish the season in the team because he deserves that."