Bolton Wanderers transfer decision could be a huge early blow for Steven Schumacher | OneFootball

The Trotters did not secure a suitable replacement for Dion Charles in January.

One of the most eye-catching deals of the January transfer window within the EFL was Dion Charles' switch across League One from Bolton Wanderers to Huddersfield Town.

Charles was an integral part of the Trotters' progression over the last few years since his January 2022 move from Accrington Stanley, scoring 57 goals in 149 appearances for the club, with seven of those coming this season.

Although Bolton brought in Kion Etete on loan from Cardiff City, the club have not acquired a like-for-like replacement for Charles, and it is one that could cost them and new manager Steven Schumacher between now and the end of the season.

Dion Charles was a key figure at the Toughsheet Community Stadium

During his three-year stint at Bolton, Charles was the club's main source of goals at the top end of the pitch.

Having joined from Accrington Stanley in January 2022, the striker found the back of the net eight times in the second half of the season before building a lasting reputation at the North West outfit.

Over the next two seasons, the Northern Ireland international scored a total of 41 goals in all competitions and finished as the club's top scorer on both occasions.

While many tipped the Trotters to achieve promotion to the Championship, they were unable to do so, missing out in the League One play-offs in consecutive seasons.

The 29-year-old's goals were ultimately not enough and this season has seen Bolton struggle, with manager Ian Evatt and Charles both departing in January, in what was a defining month for the Lancashire side.

In the lead up to Charles' exit to Huddersfield, the Northern Ireland international had been dropped by Evatt and was used sparingly from the start in matches, with Aaron Collins and John McAtee both favoured instead.

We may never know if Charles and Evatt's relationship potentially being fractured led to his exit to the John Smith's Stadium, but given the fact Evatt departed soon after, you have to wonder what the outcome would have been if Sharon Brittan wielded the axe in the dugout before the striker was sold.

Decision not to replace Dion Charles directly could be a mistake for Bolton Wanderers

Charles had bagged seven league goals before departing for Huddersfield, and although he had not been at his glistening best, he was still one of Bolton's key contributors.

While the Trotters drafted in Etete from Championship side Cardiff on loan for the remainder of the campaign, the club have failed to bring in a direct like-for-like replacement for Charles, which could cost them a play-off place come the end of the season.

Etete is yet to prove himself at Cardiff and has failed to score more than three goals during a Championship season, and he had only appeared once all season before his move to the Toughsheet Community Stadium, having suffered from an injury for the majority of the campaign.

Furthermore, the 23-year-old never managed more than three goals during spells at Northampton Town and Cheltenham Town either prior to his move to Wales, which suggests he's never going to be a natural source of goals.

It must be noted that Etete was not a Steven Schumacher signing as the club had lined him up before the arrival of the former Stoke City manager.

Of course, Schumacher has Aaron Collins, who has eased the goalscoring burden on Charles by scoring 14 goals, but six of those have come in the EFL Trophy.

John McAtee is another option the Bolton head coach has at his disposal, with the 25-year-old bagging six League One goals this campaign, but he only has two goals in his last 12 appearances and is badly out of form.

Both will be required to step up in Charles' absence if the Trotters want to achieve a play-off finish this campaign, with the club just short of the top six on goal difference, but they are clearly missing a fox in the box type of player that Charles was, and that wasn't recruited before the February 3 deadline.

Schumacher will have to rely on the players he has at his disposal to deliver in front of goal, which they did in scoring four in Bolton's narrow 4-3 win over Crawley Town, but none of those were strikers, with an own goal adding to midfielder Josh Sheehan, defender Alex Murphy and wing-back Jordi Osei-Tutu's strikes.

Chipping in with goals all over the park is a good thing, but it may not last in the long run, and should that be the case, the decision to not sign a Charles replacement could look even more foolish and very detrimental to Schumacher's hopes and ambitions.