WANDERERS manager Dougie Freedman believes the signing of young Crewe striker Max Clayton is a real positive for the club.

The Scot was tying up the loose ends on Clayton’s switch yesterday while preparing his team for tonight’s home Championship clash with Rotherham.

And while he was not planning on throwing the 20-year-old forward straight in at the deep end against the Millers, he is confident Wanderers have landed a gem for the future.

Clayton trained with the Whites last month but a deal was shelved when Freedman baulked at Crewe’s asking price.

But his interest was reignited when the Gresty Road side contacted him last week keen to revive the deal.

And Freedman was only too happy to get the former England youth international on board, believing he is one for the future.

The Whites boss told The Bolton News: “He came and trained with us for a few days and he really liked the feel for the place.

“We also felt he was someone we would like to work with.

“The price Crewe were asking was too high then all of a sudden they called us up last week and said they were prepared to do a deal because he would like to join us.

“We have done a deal which involves bigger sell-on clauses.

“I am very happy – he is one for the future but is a wonderful signing for the football club.

“At 19 he is a wonderful player. He has not got experience of the Championship yet, but he is a youth international and has a lot of talent. He won’t be available tonight and I think it would be very unfair to throw him straight in anyway.

“Knowing him, though, he will be eager to go out and prove himself.

“It’s not something that will help us short term but definitely one for the future.”

It was a day of double deals for Freedman with free agent Paddy Kenny also training at Euxton yesterday as he prepared to sign a short-term contract at the club.

The ex-Irish international is a free agent after leaving Leeds earlier this season. And Freedman moved quickly to secure his services as back-up to Andy Lonergan following Adam Bogdan’s training ground injury that will sideline him for two months.

Freedman said: “Paddy Kenny is here and trained yesterday with us.

“We are looking to tie up a short-term deal with him.

“We needed somebody short term and Paddy was available.

“He is a very experienced player.

“It is similar to what we did with Arran Lee-Barrett last season.

“We can go and loan a goalkeeper but I think the form that Andy Lonergan showed on Saturday, and in pre-season, means he deserves an opportunity.

“I believe in him and he is very capable.

“It was a freak injury for Adam in training on Friday.

“He will have an operation on Wednesday and be out for 6-8 weeks.”

Meanwhile, Freedman says he is still looking to add more to the ranks with defensive cover now his priority with Marc Tierney (foot), David Wheater (back) and Kevin McNaughton (ill) not involved again at the weekend.

A move for Nottingham Forest’s Greg Halford collapsed after he also picked up a knock last week.

Freedman says he may go back in for him but says there are other options he may look at for defensive cover, though not before tonight’s Rotherham clash.

The Wanderers manager said: “We were interested in Greg because we have a mini-defensive crisis in terms of injuries.

“Kevin McNaughton was going to be available but then fell ill.

“He trained yesterday, but has lost a lot of weight.

“With the amount of games coming up we will revisit getting defensive cover.

“It may not be Greg but we will look at getting help in at the back.

“We are short there and need some experience in.”