Steven Schumacher continues to take Bolton Wanderers on a journey through the Championship following their long-awaited return last season, with the head coach currently experiencing one hell of a migraine as he looks for a winning formula.

The Trotters have struggled to plug leaks in their defensive unit with doubts rumbling on over the system, and the rearguard was extremely exposed in last Friday’s 5-1 hammering at the hands of Middlesbrough.

Tactical discussions remain part of the discussion, but one clear factor has left Bolton’s backline completely demoralised and the prolonged absence of Chris Forino is now becoming a real issue, to say the least.

Current fitness and availability update

Forino picked up a groin injury during Bolton’s 3-2 defeat against West Ham United in early September, and subsequently he’s been sidelined for many weeks.

The defender was initially expected to be back in contention for a place in the team after the international break earlier this month, but that hasn’t yet transpired.

It’s believed that Forino has transitioned to modified training sessions away from the main group, and it’s expected that he will return to full training in the coming week.

Schumacher is remaining cautious on Forino’s return to action to avoid him breaking down once again, and it does appear as though his return to action is coming down the track.

Defensive performances without Chris Forino

Bolton look like a completely different team – particularly from a defensive point of view – when Forino doesn’t play and Schumacher must be alarmed with the drop-off.

The Trotters made a pretty positive start to life back in the second tier, however, the results didn’t necessarily reflect that, with four straight defeats coming after a win and a draw from the first two games.

Bolton have been conceding heavily in matches since Forino picked up his injury, with just one clean sheet coming since he’s been on the sidelines, with the latest performance seeing the Trotters ship five.

What Chris Forino brings to Bolton

Forino was one of the best players in the Bolton team last season, as they won the League One play-offs to return to the second tier, and the key areas he improved the team in are evident:

• Aerial-Duel Success: Forino has a 75.9% aerial duel success rate, and that puts him in the top 15% of all the Championship central defenders. Bolton have looked vulnerable from corners and free-kicks, and that likely stems from Forino being absent.
• Defending Space and Recovery: Standing at close to 6ft 3in, Forino is both physical and uncompromising, and he’s also pretty mobile when it comes to running. Tracking opposition players is his forte, and his speed ensures there is little space for opposition teams to exploit.
• Organisation Skills: Forino is a leader of men in the Bolton dressing room, and clearly some of his teammates just aren’t quite as impactful without him barking orders on the pitch. In his absence, Schumacher has had to rotate a number of partnerships involving Lewis Brunt, Akin Famewo and Eoin Toal, and that has prevented the team garnering any rhythm.

Conudrum for Schumacher to get Bolton on track

It would be a bit of a stretch to say that once Forino is back, all will be resolved for Bolton, and they will start to climb the Championship table once again.

His return will immediately alleviate set-piece deficiencies and bring much-needed aerial authority in the back line, but the issue for Bolton is far more complex.

Scumacher’s system demands that defenders cover significant ground in transition when the wing-backs push higher up. Alongside that, there is also a responsibility collectively that the team defends set pieces better.

Rather than viewing Forino’s absence as the sole explanation for defensive breakdowns, is merely showcases a structural vulnerability. As of yet, the Trotters have yet to really build a resolute defensive framework that is capable of producing the goods when key players aren’t available.

Forino’s return would be massive for Bolton, with the player considered the team’s most complete centre-back. However, long-term success in the second tier will likely be dictated by whether or not Schumacher can enhance a more ferocious rearguard that makes the team more consistent and leads to more clean sheets.