No mooted move to Bolton for Bradford's Gareth Evans - but ex-Portsmouth winger does join the Trotters

It was mooted as a potential destination for Gareth Evans when news broke that he was departing Pompey.
Lloyd Isgrove . Picture: Joe PeplerLloyd Isgrove . Picture: Joe Pepler
Lloyd Isgrove . Picture: Joe Pepler
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Bolton boss Ian Evatt said the 32-year-old wasn't a player his side were looking at – although he admitted he needed bodies 'at the top end of the pitch'.

And although it might not have been Evans, a former Blues man did indeed put pen to paper at the Trotters.

While Evans scored 38 goals in 218 appearances, Lloyd Isgrove's time at Fratton Park was starkly contrasting.

The winger infamously did not make a single outing when he spent the second half of the 2018-19 campaign at Pompey.

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Arriving on loan from Barnsley, Isgrove was recruited after Andre Green and David Wheeler had been recalled by respective parent-clubs Aston Villa and QPR.

The flying form of Ronan Curtis and Jamal Lowe made it nye-on impossible to establish themselves as regular starters in Kenny Jackett's line-up.

Isgrove initially arrived as third-choice in the wide areas, earmarked to provide competition to Curtis and Lowe as Pompey aimed to keep their grip on an automatic promotion spot.

However, when Pompey discovered Viv Solomon-Otabor was available late in the window, they swiftly moved for him.

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As a consequence, that meant Isgrove was surplus to requirements on the south coast.

The ex-Sheffield Wednesday man didn't make a solitary outing and was named on the bench on only three occasions.

Isgrove's time at PO4 ended before the Blues' play-off semi-final defeat to Sunderland. While he still remained available if required, he was sent back to Barnsley.

Following his Oakwell release, the one-cap Wales international joined Swindon on a one-year deal.

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He'd get his career back on track, though, featuring 32 times as as the Robins captured the League Two title.

Isgrove turned a new deal down at Swindon, despite manager Richie Wellens wanting him for his side's return to League One.

The 27-year-old opted to sign a one-year deal at Bolton and will now be aiming for successive fourth-tier winners' medals.