Can play-off hero Bonham make believers out of doubters in the Championship?

The goalkeeping position has thus far proven an awkward one for Steven Schumacher during his time in charge at Wanderers.

From juggling between Nathan Baxter and Luke Southwood on his arrival to abandoning Teddy Sharman-Lowe's loan from Chelsea halfway through last season and seeing American keeper Tyler Miller head home just a few days later, there has always been something to think about between the sticks.

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Jack Bonham's calm presence felt like a breath of fresh air when Bolton signed him in January, the former Stoke City man boasting the character and experience needed in the hurly-burly of a League One promotion battle.

But he too was facing questions about his consistency by the close of the campaign, and with Championship football now almost upon us, fans remain divided on whether Schumacher is right to back him as the club's number one.

Bonham's stats in League One were an improvement on the young man he replaced, and it would be unfair to overlook some of the important saves he made during the run-in to Wembley, particularly in the dramatic play-off semi-final second leg win at Bradford City.

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Of the 33 goalkeepers who made 15 appearances or more in League One last season, Bonham finished up 24th for save percentage (63.2), 16th for goals prevented (0.8).

He conceded 28 goals from his 24 games, slightly overperforming an XGOT (expected goals on target) of 28.8.

The 32-year-old had four-and-a-half Championship seasons with Stoke, playing 15, 23, and 14 league games in the first three before dropping out of the first-team picture altogether.

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Six of those league appearances were made during Schumacher's time in charge in the Potteries.

Wanderers have in reserve three other professional goalkeepers – David Harrington, Nathan Broome, and Luke Hutchinson – who have all gathered some experience playing further down the leagues but never anything close to Championship level.

When quizzed about the need for senior competition for Bonham, Schumacher has played down the urgency, maintaining other positions in the squad – namely attacking ones – are taking priority, for now.

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As reported by The Bolton News earlier this week, there is some evidence to suggest the club is examining goalkeeping options.

Veteran Asmir Begovic is available on a free transfer after his release from Leicester City, and sources close to the player claim there has been interest from Wanderers and Sheffield United.

The club has also fancifully been linked to Ipswich Town's highly-rated Dutch youngster Kayne van Oevelen, who despite only just completing a £3.4 million move from FC Volendam, is reportedly being lined up for a loan move to gain experience.

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Bonham will definitely go into this weekend's Carabao Cup first-round game at Sheffield Wednesday as first choice but – in common with a few of last season's promotion squad – seemingly must prove himself all over again in front of the terrace doubters.

Life as a Bolton keeper has been forever thus, at least since the halcyon Premier League days of Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Though James Trafford's quality shone through over his 18-month stay, he was always Manchester City's property, and a player destined for the spotlight he now occupies.

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Very few contracted goalkeepers over the last 15 years have held on to the number one spot with any great deal of certainty.

Even in Phil Parkinson's promotion season of 2016/17 Ben Alnwick and Mark Howard chopped and changed with regularity.

Post Jaaskelainen, Andy Lonergan, Adam Bogdan, Ben Amos, and Remi Matthews all had pedigree but failed to entirely satisfy the faithful, and the less said about Paul Rachubka, Joel Coleman, or Joel Dixon, the better.

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Matt Gilks had to reluctantly come out of semi-retirement to save Ian Evatt's ill-fated Billy Crellin experiment in 2020, but like Bonham, the experienced former Scotland international then came under fire after helping the club to a higher level of football.

Perhaps only Matty Alexander – the heroic academy graduate who kept out Coventry City for the Junior Whites – has ever really been given leeway by a demanding fanbase.

Bonham does not appear to be the type to let outside chatter affect his game.

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He is a popular member of the squad and Schumacher's public backing of late will give him some encouragement.

Whether his best will be good enough remains to be seen – but Wanderers can surely ill afford to make another mid-season switcheroo, as they did in the previous window.

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